Why do you believe employers should be able to control who you work for when they're no longer paying you?
One easy test for contract fairness I learned from my lawyer is, "Would it make sense if it were symmetric?" So, e.g., would your employer also agree not to go after clients that your next employer has? Or would they agree not to hire any engineers you consider competitive with yourself while you're there and for a year after you leave?
I think it's because most employees just have no interest in diminishing competition. And if they did, most don't have the bargaining power to make it happen. And that to me is what corporate non-competes are generally about: exercising power for gain, and nevermind who it hurts.
One easy test for contract fairness I learned from my lawyer is, "Would it make sense if it were symmetric?" So, e.g., would your employer also agree not to go after clients that your next employer has? Or would they agree not to hire any engineers you consider competitive with yourself while you're there and for a year after you leave?
My guess is no.