Civil Engineering Professional Engineer Practice Exam

Which organization is known to be the largest employer of civil engineers?

1. Department of Transportation

2. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

3. US Army Corps of Engineers

4. Environmental Protection Agency

The correct answer is: US Army Corps of Engineers

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is recognized as the largest employer of civil engineers primarily due to its extensive involvement in public engineering projects. This federal agency is tasked with overseeing various construction, infrastructure, and environmental missions, including designing and implementing projects related to flood risk management, navigation, and ecosystem restoration. With a portfolio that spans civil, military, and environmental engineering, the Corps employs thousands of engineers who work across the country and internationally, thus establishing itself as the predominant employer in this field. While the Department of Transportation also employs a significant number of civil engineers focusing on transportation infrastructure, such as highways and bridges, its workforce is generally smaller compared to the Corps. Similarly, the Environmental Protection Agency primarily focuses on regulatory activities related to environmental protection, which involves civil engineers but does not employ as many as the Corps. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, although it involves engineering disciplines, caters to specific aerospace projects and is not primarily focused on civil engineering in the traditional sense, further differentiating its level of employment for civil engineers compared to the extensive operations of the Corps.