Electronics manufacturing accounts for roughly one in five dollars of global trade — yet the industry faces
a persistent talent shortage. A graying workforce means retirements are looming, and the electronics
industry needs younger workers to fill both currently open roles and those that will open due to
retirements. Sixty percent of electronics companies are actively hiring, but can’t find the talent they need.
To understand the perspectives of students studying fields related to electronics, the Global
Electronics Association surveyed a small group of undergraduate and graduate students, 98% of
whom are studying electrical, mechanical, or another engineering discipline, reaching them through
the Association’s student chapters.
The results show that the industry has a visibility problem even among the students who should have
the most interest, despite offering exactly what they want.
David Hernandez, VP, Education, shares insights from the 2026 Apprenticeships for America Summit
The Global Electronics Association today announced an expansion of its member training program, extending key electronics manufacturing courses across six core languages: English, French, German, Chinese, Spanish, and Malay.
Design PCB layouts that meet performance requirements, pass validation, and move confidently into manufacturing.
Join industry and workforce leaders for Powering U.S. Electronics Talent, a free executive webinar exploring solutions to the growing talent gap in electronics manufacturing. This session will cover strategies for strengthening hiring pipelines, upskilling employees, and leveraging workforce funding and partnership opportunities.
Demand for U.S. electronics is growing because electronics engineers sit at the center of several fast-expanding areas: semiconductors, data centers, EVs, automation, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.
Apprenticeship is no longer optional. It is essential, and the U.S. apprenticeship system is gaining momentum.
Recently, Sichuan Modern Vocational College organized 132 students to complete IPC-A-610 Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) training and certification.
The Global Electronics Association today announced three new complimentary courses in safety and ergonomics, expanding its member training library to help manufacturers onboard workers faster and improve production performance.
Top three reads from David Hernandez showing how fragmented workforce efforts can be transformed into a scalable, industry-wide ecosystem by better connecting training providers, employers, funders, and intermediaries.