EWD
Workforce Data, Working Harder for You
CREC’s tools on Manufacturing Momentum deliver actionable labor market intelligence built specifically for defense manufacturing workforce development — so EWD directors can move faster, make stronger cases, and find the right partners.
Background
Manufacturing Innovation Institutes are central to advancing the technological frontier of the nation’s industrial base. Their talent development partners depend on timely, actionable information to align with emerging skill demands and technology adoption. The tools featured here are responsive to evolving national competency frameworks and designed to support grant writing, program siting, partner identification, and strategic planning.
These tools address fundamental questions that inform:
- Where are the workers located?
- What does a workforce look like in a regional labor market?
- Which education and training programs produce these workers?
- Which companies and industries are hiring?
- What are the most common certifications required to work in a certain technology area?
About CREC
Explore the dashboards
Both dashboards draw on the same underlying data, applied to different sectors.
Biomanufacturing Dashboards
Explore 4 million U.S. workers in biomanufacturing-relevant roles — talent supply, skill adjacencies, wages, credentials, and employer concentration, filterable by region and occupation.
Illustrative Insights
- The United States has approximately 31,000 Miscellaneous Plant and System Operators – an occupation which includes Biomanufacturing and Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Almost 4,000 Miscellaneous Plant and System Operators work in the Houston metropolitan area, with 75% of these workers employed in petroleum refineries, chemical manufacturing, or pipeline transportation
- 85% of Miscellaneous Plant and System Operators do not have a bachelor’s degree, but these workers earn on average $82,200 per year
Microelectronics Dashboards
Explore 1.5 million U.S. workers in electronics-relevant roles — talent supply, skill adjacencies, wages, credentials, and employer concentration, filterable by region and occupation.
Illustrative Insights
- There are approximately 100,000 Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians in the United States
- Veterans comprise 20% of the nation’s Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians (compared 5% in the overall U.S. workforce)
- However, Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians are aging – the median age of these workers is 47 years old
Advanced Materials Dashboards
Explore 4 million U.S. workers in biomanufacturing-relevant roles — talent supply, skill adjacencies, wages, credentials, and employer concentration, filterable by region and occupation.
Illustrative Insights
- Veterans make up 8% of Advanced Materials adjacent occupations, showing a greater concentration than the total workforce
- Roughly 50% of both Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Workers and Industrial Machinery Mechanics have no formal post-secondary education showing the accessibility of these occupations
- The median age for these adjacent occupations is 42, with 25% of workers being between the ages of 25 and 34
AI Dashboards
Explore 1.5 million U.S. workers in electronics-relevant roles — talent supply, skill adjacencies, wages, credentials, and employer concentration, filterable by region and occupation.
Illustrative Insights
- AI adjacent occupations tend to require higher levels of education with 73% of workers in the occupations having a Bachelor’s degree or higher level of educational attainment
- 74% of technicians in AI adjacent occupations have some formal post-secondary education
- Several key support occupations like Logisticians and Operations Research Analysts have strong Veteran representation at 14% and 13% respectively
How You Can Use These Dashboards
Grant Development & Proposal Support
Program Siting & Expansion
Partner & Network Identification
Strategic Planning & Communication
Some Questions Our Data Can Answer
Veterans
Where are vets working and what industries do they work in?
Talent Supply
In a given MSA, where is talent available and which industries have they worked in?
Skill Gaps
What certs do employers want vs. what local institutions offer?
Retirement Risk
Where are critical defense occupations most at risk?
Mismatch
Are there jobs in one region but workers concentrated in another?
Let’s Talk
CREC welcomes conversations with EWD directors at every stage – whether you’re exploring the tools for the first time or ready to dig into a specific workforce challenge.
info@manufacturingmomentum.org
Services Available
15-Minute Intro Call
Quick walkthrough of the dashboards or reports
Presentation for your Team
Short, tailored presentation on how to use the tools for staff or partners
Custom Regional Analysis
Targeted deep-dive into a specific metro, occupation, or sector