What Should Companies Do to Attract Engineering Candidates?

Offer good salaries, good bennies, and a good work atmosphere.

In addition,they should have a good boss who will understand problems encountered in the profession,non-inteference in engineer's work,providing resources like assistants,draftsmen,code books etc

I think a company should first discover "new talent" within it's present work force. There are many workers that have worked long and hard, have contributed a lot, but have been passed over because they lack a degree. Having a degree doesn't guarantee getting a qualified individual. Most times, too much emphasis is put on having a degree. Nothing beats experience in the long term.

I know the old cliche' "It ain't rocket science", but most engineering projects involve "routine" handling which can and is being done by non-degreed personel. Essentially, there are too many engineers. There just isn't enough high tech engineering around that requires an engineer's expertise. If I may present an analogy; it's like having a car with 500 hp, but driven using only 50hp.

I have seen old (and not so old) farmers who till their fields, design and build their own machines that would put any degreed person to shame.

Some CEO/MD do not accept existing talent. In one company the Director for electrical works, who is a chartered engineer, appointed a young,inexperienced son of the MD as head of electrical division. That guy was very rude and preferred to listen to old hands who were dominating the company and neglected new(not young) experienced talent.

The question should be in the opposite sense,what should technical colleges and universities do for companies or employers to compete to recruit diploma or degree holders?.