Insights & Data
Reports
In-depth reports and briefs highlighting key insights, data, and trends shaping the manufacturing ecosystem.
Biomanufacturing Talent for U.S. National Security & Economic Competitiveness
This report examines the workforce landscape for U.S. biomanufacturing, a DoD Critical Technology Area essential to domestic production of biofuels, bio-based materials, and other defense-critical capabilities. It profiles 4 million Americans across 22 occupations with relevant skills, analyzes regional hubs by workforce size and specialization, and maps the education and training infrastructure supporting the field. The report finds that while a large talent base exists, less than half of these workers are currently employed in production roles. Significant opportunities exist to scale up the U.S. biomanufacturing workforce through targeted reskilling of adjacent workers, expansion of employer-led apprenticeships, and short-term, standardized training aligned to biomanufacturing’s unique regulatory and process requirements.
Electronics Talent for U.S. National Security & Economic Competitiveness
This report analyzes the workforce underpinning U.S. electronics and semiconductor manufacturing—a sector critical to defense systems ranging from precision munitions and unmanned vehicles to submarine sonar and photonics-enabled targeting. The report profiles 1.5 million Americans across 15 occupations, maps regional workforce strengths and gaps, and assesses education and training pipelines nationally. A central finding is that the technician shortage represents the most immediate bottleneck and that place-based workforce challenges, particularly near classified facilities and defense installations, make regional coordination between employers, community colleges, and policymakers essential to production readiness.
Manufacturing Momentum Summit – 2025 Report
The report highlights the critical workforce challenges facing U.S. advanced manufacturing, including labor shortages, demographic shifts, skill mismatches, and persistent negative perceptions of manufacturing careers. It emphasizes that rapid technological change in areas like AI, robotics, and semiconductors demands new skills that current training systems are not prepared to deliver. Participants called for better data systems, clearer metrics, stronger coordination across regions and sectors, and more effective workforce programs that align education and training with industry needs. The report also outlines practical solutions and best practices for expanding talent pipelines, supporting reskilling, and building partnerships that can strengthen the manufacturing workforce now and in the future.
Manufacturing USA
Advanced Manufacturing Occupation and Competency Framework
The 2025 Advanced Manufacturing Occupation and Competency Framework defines a unified set of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed across advanced manufacturing roles that span the 18 Manufacturing USA institutes. Developed by Manufacturing USA with support from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the framework provides a common language and structure for key occupations and competencies to support workforce development. It maps important entry-level occupations and associated skills, connecting them to industry needs and existing models used by the Department of Labor. The framework aims to help job seekers, employers, trainers, and policymakers collaborate more effectively, guide credentialing and training programs, and align workforce efforts with the evolving demands of advanced manufacturing technology sectors.