NTMA and Navy Forge Alliance to Combat Manufacturing Workforce Crisis

CLEVELAND, OH – February 10, 2026 – The National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) has announced a landmark partnership with the U.S. Navy, becoming a National Facilitator for the Navy's Talent Pipeline Program (TPP). The collaboration aims to directly confront a severe and deepening skilled labor shortage that threatens to undermine the U.S. manufacturing sector, economic growth, and national security.

This strategic alliance will expand access to the TPP for NTMA's extensive national network of small and medium-sized manufacturers, providing them with critical tools and support to recruit, train, and retain the skilled workforce necessary to maintain a resilient domestic supply chain. The move comes as industry reports continue to paint a stark picture of a workforce in crisis, with millions of jobs projected to go unfilled in the coming decade.

A Strategic Alliance for National Security

The partnership is more than a workforce initiative; it is a direct response to a pressing national security imperative. The U.S. Navy is currently undertaking a monumental fleet modernization and expansion effort, with the production of Columbia-class and Virginia-class submarines at the forefront. This ambitious plan, which aims to build one Columbia-class and two Virginia-class submarines annually, depends entirely on a robust and highly skilled defense industrial base (DIB).

However, that base is facing an unprecedented talent shortfall. The Navy's Submarine Industrial Base alone estimates a need to hire over 100,000 workers in the next decade to meet production demands. Across the broader Maritime Industrial Base, that number swells to approximately 250,000. These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they represent a critical vulnerability. Workforce challenges have already been cited as a significant factor in production delays and cost overruns for critical defense programs, directly impacting military readiness.

The inability to fill high-skill roles—from CNC programmers and machinists to welders and maintenance technicians—creates a bottleneck that slows innovation, hinders the adoption of new technologies, and ultimately limits the nation's capacity to respond to global threats. This partnership seeks to reinforce that foundation by ensuring the small and medium-sized shops that form the backbone of the DIB have the talent they need to operate at full capacity.

A Practical Blueprint for Talent Development

At the heart of this collaboration is the Talent Pipeline Program, a strategic public-private partnership designed to provide manufacturers with practical, effective solutions. Rather than simply identifying the problem, the TPP offers a systematic blueprint for how to solve it. The program, which is fully underwritten by the U.S. Navy and provided at no cost to employers, equips companies with the tools, data, and expert coaching needed to build demand-driven talent acquisition and retention systems.

“We are incredibly excited to have NTMA joining the U.S. Navy Talent Pipeline Program as a National Facilitator. This role is vital to our success - it’s about connecting employers, sharing best practices, and helping companies turn good intentions into repeatable talent systems that work," said Vince Jordan, TPP National Facilitator Lead. "NTMA brings unmatched industry insight and a trusted national platform, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to the team as we work together to strengthen the manufacturing workforce that supports the U.S. Navy.”

By becoming part of the TPP, NTMA members join a national network of more than 618 employers committed to re-energizing their talent systems. The program focuses on implementing best practices in lean manufacturing, creating value-added processes, and enhancing the employee experience from the very first day. Following successful pilots in several NTMA chapters, the program is now being rolled out nationwide.

“This partnership directly supports NTMA’s mission to strengthen U.S. precision manufacturing and maintain a resilient supply chain critical to our economy, national defense, and communities,” said Roger Atkins, NTMA President.

Confronting an Industry-Wide Crisis

The urgency of the NTMA-Navy initiative is underscored by the staggering scale of the manufacturing workforce crisis. Recent studies project that as many as 1.9 million manufacturing jobs could remain unfilled by 2033 if current trends continue. The economic consequences are dire, with the potential cost of these missing jobs reaching an estimated $1 trillion in 2030 alone. For over 65% of manufacturers, attracting and retaining talent remains their primary business challenge.

This crisis is fueled by a perfect storm of factors. A significant portion of the current manufacturing workforce is nearing retirement, with roughly one-third of all workers over the age of 55. This impending wave of retirements will create a massive experience vacuum that the industry is ill-prepared to fill. Compounding the issue is a persistent "applicant gap," where there are simply not enough candidates applying for open positions, whether skilled or unskilled.

Furthermore, the industry struggles with a perception problem among younger generations. With only 14% of Gen Z individuals stating they would consider a career in manufacturing, the pipeline for new talent is dangerously thin. This is happening at a time when the required skills are becoming more advanced, with the shift to Industry 4.0 demanding proficiency in digital tools, software, and automation alongside traditional trade skills.

Building the Next Generation of American Makers

This partnership represents a crucial step in reshaping both the reality and the perception of careers in American manufacturing. By providing clear, structured pathways to skilled, well-paying jobs, the TPP helps demonstrate the viability and importance of the trades. This effort complements NTMA's long-standing commitment to workforce development, which includes its online NTMA-U apprenticeship curriculum, partnerships with K-12 schools, and advanced skills training programs.

Success in pilot regions provides a promising outlook. In Philadelphia, for example, the TPP's inaugural "Signing Day" event saw over 165 individuals begin their careers in skilled trades at local DIB suppliers. These events, which the Navy plans to expand, celebrate the commitment of new talent and highlight the opportunities available within the sector.

The collaboration between the NTMA and the U.S. Navy is a recognition that securing America's industrial future requires a concerted, proactive effort. It is an investment not only in ships and submarines but in the people who build them. By empowering manufacturers to fix their own workforce challenges and fostering a new generation of makers, this alliance aims to rebuild the talent pipeline that is essential for both economic prosperity and national security.