Alabama's workforce push could help fill critical U.S. job gaps
A message from: JPMorganChase
By 2033, the manufacturing sector is projected to need 3.8 million additional workers, with half of those jobs at risk of remaining unfilled. [1]
Why it's important: These talent shortages are currently slowing America's progress in defense, advanced manufacturing, semiconductor fabrication and energy — creating real risks to national security. [2]
The positive news: Alabama is uniquely positioned to grow the workforce and supplier base that America needs. [3]
- With deep expertise in defense, aerospace and advanced manufacturing — along with record investment and strategic assets — the state has the foundation needed to deliver meaningful impact.
🚀 Zoom in: Huntsville, nicknamed the Rocket City, is at the forefront of America's next wave of growth.
Rapid advancements in aerospace, defense and advanced manufacturing have helped shape the region into a national hub for innovation.
Key numbers:
- In 2025, $14.5 billion in capital investment was announced across 234 projects, with nearly 9,400 new job commitments. [4]
- Huntsville has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. at just 1.9% in December 2025. [5]
- Huntsville has more than 108,000 manufacturing jobs. That's more than double the national average concentration and up 21% since 2021. [6]
- Over 99% of Alabama firms are small businesses, fueling economic growth and serving as vital links to broader business supply chains. [7]
JPMorganChase is committed to helping Alabama seize this moment, working alongside Alabama's leaders to build the talent pipelines that will power U.S. security and economic leadership for years to come.
The strategy: Alabama has the infrastructure in place to support near-term results. Three areas of focus can sustain the momentum and broaden opportunity.
1️⃣ Building employer talent collaboratives.
Employer talent collaboratives help match employer needs with skill-building and credentials. They shape transferable credentials and training opportunities that reflect current tools and standards, align with in-demand roles, and track outcomes like job placement, wages, and career progression.
- How it's done: These collaboratives are led by industry and workforce partners, but they also benefit from the statewide infrastructure, credentialing systems and apprenticeship support established by the Alabama Department of Workforce.
- The Department's leadership in workforce reintegration and skills-based hiring helps create the conditions for these partnerships to succeed and scale.
2️⃣ Partnering with employers to grow apprenticeships and work-based learning.
The Alabama Community College System Innovation Center and Alabama Industrial Development Training deliver employer‑aligned training statewide at no cost to learners.
- Apprenticeships blend paid, on-the-job training with classroom or online instruction, creating pathways to skilled trades and high-wage, in-demand roles across industries, including technology and defense.
Alabama's Office of Apprenticeship provides a foundation to expand earn‑and‑learn programs in defense, aerospace and advanced manufacturing as employer demand grows.
An example: Lockheed Martin's Advanced Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Program (AMTAP) and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology's workforce and mentoring programs are led by industry and workforce partners.
- They benefit from the statewide infrastructure, credentialing systems and apprenticeship support established by the Alabama Department of Workforce.
- The Department's leadership in workforce reintegration and skills-based hiring helps create the conditions for these partnerships to succeed and scale.
3️⃣ Connecting skills to opportunity.
Veterans are a strong talent pool for precision manufacturing, cybersecurity and engineering. Skills‑based hiring, credit for prior learning and credentials, and fast‑track clearance paths can move veterans into these roles quickly and strengthen employer pipelines.
- Alabama's new Veterans Resource Center (AVRC) will serve as a statewide hub for veteran job training, benefits navigation and career transitions — creating a stronger bridge between veteran skills and Alabama employers.
- Still Serving Veterans, an organization with Huntsville roots, provides coaching, career counseling and educational workshops to veterans at no cost through its Veteran Career Transition program, placing veterans in jobs with a $76,000+ average salary in 2025.
- Nationally, JPMorganChase's Veteran Jobs Mission has supported more than 1 million veteran hires, offering models that could be adapted with local partners in Alabama.
The takeaway: With expanded employer collaboratives, apprenticeships and upskilling, Alabama can deliver measurable results, expanding opportunities for workers and helping businesses grow.
- Efforts like these help ensure the U.S. has the skilled workforce needed to support national defense, strengthen supply chains and remain competitive in critical industries.
[1] Deloitte. (2024, April). Supporting US manufacturing growth amid workforce challenges. Deloitte. https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/manufacturing-industrial-products/supporting-us-manufacturing-growth-amid-workforce-challenges.html (accessed April 2, 2026).
[2] JPMorganChase PolicyCenter and Center for Geopolitics. Working to Win: Rebuilding America's Workforce for an Age of Geopolitical Competition. December 2025. https://www.jpmorganchase.com/content/dam/jpmorganchase/documents/center-for-geopolitics/policy-center-workforce-report.pdf (accessed March 3, 2026)
[3] https://alports.com/alabama-port-authority-achieves-50-foot-channel-depth-first-vessel-departs-at-historic-draft/; https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/eli-lilly-announces-6-billion-pharmaceutical-manufacturing-investment-in-huntsville/#:~:text=Eli%20Lilly%20and%20Company%20(NYSE:%20LLY)%20is,Scientists%20*%20Operations%20personnel%20*%20Lab%20technicians; https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/arcelormittal-steel-plant-alabama-trump-tariffs/739713/ ; https://www.sedc.org/news/manufacturing-auto-supplier-in-alabama-plans-to-spend-430-million-create-more-than-1300-jobs
[5] https://data.fosters.com/unemployment/huntsville-city-al/CT0137000000000/2025-december/
[6] https://data.fosters.com/unemployment/huntsville-city-al/CT0137000000000/2025-december/; https://data.fosters.com/unemployment/huntsville-city-al/CT0137000000000/2025-december/
[7] https://256today.com/alabamas-heart-and-hustle-ivey-proclaims-small-business-saturday-in-the-state/