Axios

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Leaders across government and industry are racing to expand workforce pathways as north Alabama's growth accelerates beyond its aerospace roots.

Why it matters: Huntsville's reputation as "Rocket City" helps attract talent and investment, but long-term expansion depends on diversifying industries and building broader, earlier growth opportunities for young people.

Axios' Colin Demarest and Derek Lacy moderated conversations with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Lockheed Martin Space president Robert Lightfoot and Blue Origin government relations vice president Megan Wilson Green. The event was sponsored by JPMorgan Chase.

Driving the news: A recent WalletHub analysis ranked Huntsville the No. 10 best city in the country for job-seekers.

By the numbers: 23% of Huntsville's workforce is in STEM, according to the Huntsville Business Journal, citing a study from CoworkingCafe.

• Huntsville has the most engineering professionals per capita in the U.S., Battle said.

Yes, but: "We have to grow in more ways," Battle warned. Huntsville can't have "all of our eggs in one basket."

What they're saying: The area needs to expand in terms of who they're reaching and the skills they're prioritizing.

• "We're not just trying to reach students, we're trying to reach veterans … and other individuals wanting to transition," Wilson Green said.
• "We need to be reaching out to students in kindergarten and in fifth grade … before they become a senior in high school."

What's next: Employers like Lockheed Martin say the workforce must blend traditional trade with advanced tech skills.

• "We still need technicians. We still need welders … just like we need engineers," Lightfoot said.

Content from the sponsor's segment:

In a sponsored View From the Top segment, Brian Lamb, head of specialized industries and co-head of impact banking and advisory at J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking, told Axios publisher Nicholas Johnston that the organization is focused on outcomes.

• There's "a lot of momentum in Huntsville," he said, and JPMorgan is thinking about "how do we help Alabamians get a good job, advance their careers [and] get a good education?"
• "How can we make a difference to go faster … to accelerate some of the really interesting things happening at a really hyperlocal level?"

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