US Navy risks losing vital shipbuilding skills

By 2030, there could be about 2.1 million unfilled manufacturing jobs in the United States. This is not only a lost opportunity for American workers, but also a scale of unfilled manufacturing jobs that could negatively impact the U.S. economy, costing us more than $1 trillion by the end of the decade.

Some of these costs will be realized through reduced production capacity, limited adoption of new, more efficient technologies, and a general slowdown in the pace of development and innovation. Beyond the economic consequences, unfilled jobs in our nation’s defense industry have serious implications for our nation’s national security.

How did we get here?

In terms of the maritime industrial base, it was post-Cold War budget cuts in the mid-1990s that reduced maritime production and left a once robust industry fragmented and fragile. Suppliers have shifted focus or closed their doors, splintering the tightly integrated supply chain. Workers were leaving the manufacturing sector, creating a huge skills shortage. Today, we are missing almost 140,000 workers support the construction of submarines only.

As for the remaining suppliers today, there are not enough new, younger skilled workers replace veteran employees who are retiring and taking with them years of manufacturing and maintenance experience. All this contributes to a lag in the production and maintenance of ships during a period of expanding global threats.

The most important challenge facing the U.S. Navy is expanding and maintaining manufacturing capabilities at the maritime industrial base to recapitalize the sea-based deterrent and ensure a sustained and effective maritime presence. To this end, The Navy recently launched the 1+2 mission. build and maintain three new submarines annually—one Columbia-class submarine and two Virginia-class submarines. This is a massive, once-in-a-generation effort to revitalize shipbuilding, its supply chains and the maritime workforce.

All hands on deck

Our missions are national in nature and require coordination and cooperation across the country. Increasing capacity, capacity and collaboration on this scale also depends heavily on understanding the unique strengths and needs of local regions.

This requires a neutral, integrated, national approach that empowers local suppliers and workforce initiatives while creating a cohesive nationwide network focused on revitalizing the entire maritime industry and renewing the pride and satisfaction that a career in manufacturing brings.

Good efforts are being made to try to solve these problems and revitalize America’s maritime industrial base and our manufacturing sector as a whole. One of the many ways the Navy is going beyond the norm is through the 2022 partnership with the nonprofit BlueForge Alliance, where I serve as Chair of the Strategic Advisory Council. Designated as an integrator of offshore and subsea industrial bases, this neutral and impartial partner is focused on supplier development, workforce empowerment and the strategic deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies.

Through these unique approaches, the Navy has been successful in integrating shipbuilders, suppliers, and a skilled workforce that can develop and maintain a maritime industrial base. In less than two years, they have provided more than $273 million to suppliers directly linked to the submarine industrial base to expand capacity and capabilities. More than 4,000 people were trained in skilled trades directly related to the needs of submarines and offshore industrial bases, and more than 10,000 employees were hired in 2023, a 41% increase over the previous year. Besides, BuildSubmarines.com The website, operated by BlueForge Alliance, attracted more than 11 million hits, resulting in more than 560,000 job alerts and more than 1.4 million job application clicks.

Recent advances in advanced manufacturing are transforming the submarine industrial base, driving improvements in both manufacturing capabilities and power. Through the adoption of advanced tools such as additive manufacturing (AM), automation, robotics and non-destructive testing (NDT), the industrial base is reducing lead times, improving quality, safety and improving overall productivity. Phased array automated ultrasonic inspection (PAUT) and artificial intelligence radiographic inspection have significantly reduced inspection time while improving repeatability and quality control. Meanwhile, certification of Navy-specific AM process material combinations eliminates bottlenecks in the supply chain, allowing alternatives for the production of critical parts to be created quickly and more flexibly. These technology efforts not only improve supply chain resilience and flexibility, but also ensure the maritime industrial base is better positioned to meet the Navy’s growing needs and support long-term success.

It is clear that if we work together, locally and nationally – across government, business and society – we can stimulate the American economy by revitalizing manufacturing. Our nation’s marine manufacturing industry can offer people the chance to have a stable, well-paid and rewarding career with the potential for dynamic growth. And most importantly, we can ensure that those who serve our country are better prepared to defend it.

Steven Rodriguez is the founder of One Defense and director of the Atlantic Council Commission.