🤖 Advanced Manufacturing #2
HolonIQ is tracking reskilling and upskilling efforts as automation, robotics, and AI reshape the industry. With demand for specialized skills accelerating, continuous learning is key to driving innovation, boosting efficiency, and building a future-ready workforce.
This week in the Advanced Manufacturing sector, new investments, workforce shifts, and policy updates are shaping the industry. ArcelorMittal is moving forward with its $1.2B electrical steel plant in Alabama, adding 1500 jobs and reducing dependence on imported steel. Tesla has started hiring engineers to expand the production of its Optimus humanoid robot, increasing demand for expertise in AI, robotics, and automation.
Meanwhile, Goodyear announced 850 layoffs in Virginia as it restructured operations to focus on aviation tires. Workforce development efforts continue to address skills shortages. Embry-Riddle and Airbus launched a 24-month training program for aviation manufacturing workers, while Texas State Technical College broke ground on a $47M facility to support semiconductor and industrial training. The Economic Development Administration awarded $3.9M in Kentucky to expand the region’s smart manufacturing workforce initiative. On the policy side, Karnataka introduced its Industrial Policy 2025-30, aiming to create 2 million jobs and attract $86.3B in investment.
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Advanced Manufacturing Labor Market Trends
📈 ArcelorMittal’s $1.2B Steel Plant to Create 1,500 Jobs, Advance US Manufacturing. ArcelorMittal is moving forward with its $1.2B electrical steel plant in Mobile Couty, bringing 1,300 construction jobs and 200 permanent positions. Set to open in 2027, the facility will strengthen US manufacturing by reducing reliance on steel imports. It will produce 150,000 metric tons of specialized steel annually, requiring advanced manufacturing skills and technical expertise in precision steel production.
🚂 Tesla Hiring Engineers for Optimus Bot, Expanding AI & Robotics. Tesla has begun hiring engineers at its Fremont factory to support the production of its Optimus humanoid robot. The company posted at least 12 new roles, from manufacturing technicians to production managers, signaling a push into AI-driven automation. 10,000 units are projected to be produced in 2024, with deliveries in 2026. As Tesla diversifies beyond EVs, this expansion highlights emerging skill demands in robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing.
🧑🔬 Goodyear to Lay Off 850 Workers in Danville, Shift Focus to Aviation. Goodyear is laying off 850 employees at its Danville, Virginia, facility as part of a global restructuring plan. The company will shift production focus to mixing and aviation tires, relocating commercial tire manufacturing elsewhere. Local officials expressed concern over the impact but pledged workforce training and job placement support.
Ontario Manufacturing Jobs Are Slowly Recovering
📊 Ontario’s manufacturing sector peaked at 1.12 million jobs in 2002 but has declined sharply since, with 321,000 jobs lost from 2003–2018.
🧑🔧 Since 2018, only 8,300 jobs have been added—recovering just 2.6% of prior losses. The sector remains 312,700 jobs below its peak.
🏭 Despite a sharp decline since 2004, Ontario has experienced a significantly smaller drop in manufacturing jobs compared to US states such as Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York.
📈 While Canada’s manufacturing activity reached a 22-month high in December 2024, with the S&P Global Canada Manufacturing PMI rising to 52.2, challenges such as US tariffs will play a significant role in the sector’s growth.
Upskilling/Reskilling Initiatives
⚒️ Embry-Riddle, Airbus Launch Training Program to Strengthen Aviation Workforce. Embry-Riddle Aviation University and Airbus are partnering on a 24-month training program to upskill aviation manufacturing workers in Mobile, Alabama. Focused on structural and electrical assembly for A320 and A220 aircraft, the initiative prepares workers for advanced manufacturing roles. Conducted online and through onsite learning labs, the program addresses industry-wide workforce shortages.
🧑💻 Texas State Technical College Breaks Ground on $47M Workforce Training Center. Texas State Technical College (TSTC) has begun construction on a $47M advanced manufacturing training center in East Williamson County. The 70,000-square-foot facility will support semiconductor, industrial systems, and precision machining programs, addressing Texas’ growing skills gap. Key partners like Samsung Austin Semiconductor are backing the initiative to ensure students gain job-ready skills. With enrollment expected to triple, the center aligns with Texas’ push to expand technical training.
🏭 EDA Grants $3.9M to Boost Advanced Manufacturing Workforce in Kentucky. The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $3.9M to the South Central Kentucky Development Authority and Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce to expand the Building a Smart Manufacturing Workforce initiative. The program will strengthen workforce training in robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing by uniting manufacturers, educators, and economic development entities.
Policy Initiatives
📃 Karnataka’s Industrial Policy 2025-30 Aims for 2 Million Jobs, $86.3B Investment. Karnataka’s new Industrial Policy 2025-30 aims for a 12% annual manufacturing growth rate while attracting $86.3B in investments and creating 2 million jobs by 2030. The policy introduces workforce upskilling, MSME incentives, and logistics sector recognition, alongside flexible subsidies and sustainability initiatives. A new single-window clearance system was also launched to streamline approvals.
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