Engineer shortage

[Effixel]

Hi fellow colonists,

So I am about 100 days into my first game, and my colony is quite ok I think, with around 130 colonists and almost self sustainable. Almost because I still need to regularly buy Electronics from Earth, since I don't produce enough. Why? Because I cannot build more factories since I cruelly lack engineers to run them.
I have no problem hiring any kind of specialisation from Earth, except from Engineers, who have always been in very low number.
So is this a game mechanic that there is always a profession which has few applicants, or am i just very unlucky?

[Didz]

Build a University and train your own. But to be honest I just build the Electronic Factories anyway and employ anyone who wants to work there. It may not be as efficient by with overtime on the first two shifts it at least makes a dent in the demand for imports.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1827961036

To be honest I don't bother that much about specialisations I'm more concerned with weeding out the nutters. So I tend to prohibit all Flaws and just take them as they come.

[SkiRich]

Applicant pool specialization replenishment is random. Just your luck. I suggest building an MU

[Ericus1]

Like SkiRich said there is no weighting based on specialization to applicant pool generation, but by far engineers are the most required specialization across all buildings, being used by buildings you need the most of AND the buildings requiring large numbers of workers per shift. So there will always be a severe lack of engineers if you're only trying to import them.

It's one of the complaints I have - there is really terrible specialization balance in the game.

[BGR]

Martians are the key to a self sufficient Mars.

[SirChaos77]

Originally posted by BGR:

Martians are the key to a self sufficient Mars.

Exactly.

To be really self-sufficient, you need to be able to replace retiring colonists, including their specialisation, without recruiting people on Earth.

[some moron]

I begin with small factories. I find these produce pretty well, don't require nearly the electronics to construct, and I can train enough engineers for the smalls. I don't usually need a large parts factory because trib takes care of that. I typically build the large electronics but don't need it, with a small electronics full of engineers, first and second shift OT.

I personally find it rediculously easy to become independent, I just don't believe it. Perhaps it's possible. I would expect food and water would need to be imported permanently.

[MisterSpock]

You should start with a large factory, because they have a better production per workforce ratio.
Start with a polymere factory, then machine parts, then electronics.
You really shouldnt rely on self-sufficienty, since exporting rare metall is far more lucurative.
Selfsuffience is more endgame.

[mlper]

Hello, Effix!
I just wanted to tell you that you can exchange metals or some other thing for electronics. I did that with a rival colony and now I have plenty of electronics. Of course, you have to produce your own. It's a good idea to build an University, so you'll have Engineers when and where you need them. Good luck with the game!