Reshoring is driving new manufacturing investment across America. Since early 2025, companies have announced more than $1.2 trillion in projects — one of the largest waves of industrial development in decades. But, as they decide where to build, the hardest resource to secure isn’t land, power or water. It’s people. From 2024 to 2033, manufacturers will need about 3.8 million new employees, and roughly half of those jobs — around 1.9 million — could go unfilled if workforce shortages persist, according to The Manufacturing Institute. 

The best places for employers to grow, then, aren’t just those with strong infrastructure, like roads, rail and airports. Rather, they’re metros with concentrated workforces, robust training programs, strong educational institutions and policymakers in sync with industry skill needs. 

With that in mind, this study ranks the 100 largest U.S. metro areas for industrial employers based on workforce readiness. Metrics fall into three categories: workforce and education/training; infrastructure; and financial considerations. Given the central role of workforce and education, it accounts for 44 of the 100 available points, while the other categories capture logistics and economic viability. 

1. Toledo MSA

Toledo, Ohio, topped the overall ranking of the U.S. metro areas that are best-suited for industrial employers. Despite its relatively small population of about 600,000, the metro outperformed larger peers thanks to a strong concentration of industrial workers per capita, as well as a standout performance in our calculation of active apprentices in industrial sectors per capita. Here, roughly 322 active apprentices per 10,000 residents represents the highest share in the full study among all metros. This estimate starts with state-level figures and adjusts them to each metro’s local population. It also highlights Ohio’s overall strength as a leader in apprenticeships: Across all industries, the state ranks third nationwide in total numbers, trailing only giants Texas and California. 

In recent years, ApprenticeOhio has benefited from increased financial support. In September this year, the program received nearly $1.6 million in training- and tool-reimbursement grants to participating employers — funding tied to its federal State Apprenticeship Expansion support. In Toledo, in particular, this translates to real benefits for industrial sectors and employers: It helps close skills gaps, ensures a steady flow of workers who can adapt to new technologies and fills vacancies left by a nationally aging manufacturing workforce. Additionally, ApprenticeOhio collaborates with local companies — such as Johns Manville, auto giant Stellantis and Libbey Glass — thereby allowing the metro to sustain its traditional strengths, like specialized glass production (earning it the nickname, “Glass City”). 

As technology advances, a metro’s established strengths can open new opportunities. In Toledo, glassmaking skills are now feeding into solar panel production. For example, First Solar is expanding its Perrysburg facilities to increase U.S. output, bringing hundreds of new manufacturing and R&D jobs through 2026. 

2. Grand Rapids MSA

Grand Rapids came in as the second-best metro overall for industrial employers by earning the highest score for industrial workforce concentration. The metro counts about 1,681 industrial workers per 10,000 residents (roughly 195,000 people out of a population of 1.2 million) spread across manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, production floors and office roles. 

Looking at why Grand Rapids has such a concentrated pool takes you back to its roots as “Furniture City,” when one-third of the local labor force worked in wood shops. As furniture production spread post-World War II, those skills carried into metals, plastics, and tooling, consequently drawing in aerospace and auto suppliers. Then, by the late 20th century, regional manufacturers were leaning into R&D, paving the way for newer strengths in biopharma and medical devices. Today, that mix shows up in a range of employers that keep the industrial base broad. For instance, Steelcase and Herman Miller remain with their furniture and office systems, while Perrigo and other biopharma firms build on the region’s R&D footing. Medical-device makers also cluster around Grand Rapids’ health sector, and aerospace and auto suppliers round out the metals and plastics side. 

Taken together, these industries speak to the concentration of industrial establishments per capita with some 63 firms per 10,000 residents registered across the metro area. That density ranked second-highest among the top 20 metros, behind only Chicago. 

3. Indianapolis MSA

Indianapolis rounded out the top three metros overall by boasting a talent pipeline specific to industrial sectors, particularly in addressing gaps in bachelor–level and leadership roles. That’s because the metro produces the highest volume (31) of postsecondary completions in industrial-related programs when measured per capita (per 10,000 residents). This is especially relevant given the demonstrated need for credentials in hiring: A Conexus Indiana study showed that roughly one in five advanced manufacturing job openings across the state requires postsecondary education. 

In the Indianapolis metro itself, the roster of institutions and initiatives supporting this need starts with Ivy Tech Community College, the largest postsecondary institution in the state. It offers associate degrees, technical certificates and online programs, in addition to serving as the largest source of postsecondary manufacturing credentials in the state. Last year, it opened a Manufacturing Innovation Training Center in the 16 Tech Innovation District. 

On the ground, the metro’s concentration of industrial workers ranks just outside of the top half among the top 20 overall metros, but it’s been growing steadily — up roughly 5% in the number of roles within industrial sectors. Meanwhile, large global manufacturers continue to invest in the metro, as exemplified by Roche Diagnostics and its $550 million expansion of manufacturing capacity, which also highlights the area’s ties to biotech and life sciences. For small- to medium-sized manufacturers, the state’s Manufacturing Readiness Grant initiative has seen recipients among Indianapolis-area firms. 

4. Chicago MSA

Simply due to its sheer scale, we can expect that Chicago scored well across multiple indicators, like infrastructure, for starters: The metro recorded the most miles of heavy roads among the top 20 metros in our ranking — nearly 5,000 miles within the metro area, according to Federal Highway Administration data. Similarly, the Windy City’s rail and airports rank among the very best in density and number. Chicago also tops the list for industrial establishment density with about 67 firms per 10,000 residents and more than 62,000 industrial companies across the metro. That density stems partly from the city’s Planned Manufacturing Districts, which have long protected industrial clusters. However, some zones, especially those near the city center, have recently loosened for mixed-use projects, consequently creating micro-ecosystems that could give advanced manufacturers a pathway to integrate with bioscience and tech firms. 

That said, right now, the most striking example of industrial and technology converging may be Chicagoland’s push into quantum computing. On the South Side, the former South Works steel plant, which once employed 20,000 people, is slated to become the Illinois Quantum Manufacturing Park. The anchor tenant PsiQuantum (a California startup) plans to build the nation’s first utility-scale quantum computer there by 2028. Backing includes $500 million from Illinois and $5 million each from the City of Chicago and Cook County. PsiQuantum is also set to receive about $200 million in state incentives, which is contingent upon creating at least 154 full-time jobs. 

5. Memphis MSA

Already home to the busiest cargo airport in the U.S. and the nation’s third-largest rail hub, Memphis is often called America’s distribution center. And, FedEx’s World Hub at Memphis International Airport underscores that role. The nation’s top cargo facility by volume, it employs about 13,000 people. As a result, the metro has one of the strongest industrial workforce densities in the top 20 with 1,463 workers per 10,000 residents, or about 29% above the national average. Manufacturing, too, has seen a host of expansions this year creating new jobs.

In fact, Memphis is currently undergoing a massive industrial development phase — one of the largest in the county by square feet currently under construction. Yardi Research data shows that the Memphis market has 12.5 million square feet underway (just Dallas, Houston and Phoenix have larger active pipelines). Here, BlueOval City — Ford’s $5.6 billion, 4 million square feet for EV and battery campus — at the edge of Memphis is one clear explanation for the inflated pipeline. Plus, such projects matter not only for the facilities themselves, but also for how they attract suppliers, build new logistics ecosystems and test a region’s ability to meet employer workforce needs. Fortunately, at least in terms of skilled trades, technicians and engineers, Memphis was one of the better–performing metros. Local institutions like the University of Memphis’ Herff College of Engineering graduate students from a mechanical engineering program with a focus on advanced manufacturing. 

6. Dayton MSA

Dayton’s industrial workforce has been on the rise, up nearly 8% from 2018 to 2023 — a steady recovery for a manufacturing base long central to the area. Earlier, one particular decision from  global firm Fuyao Glass gave a clear jolt by hiring industrial skilled workers and tapping into the metro’s workforce wisdom for manufacturing and its facilities from earlier eras: In 2014, Fuyao put $600 million into repurposing the old GM Moraine facility that had closed six years earlier, consequently bringing back more than 2,000 jobs. Today, the plant stands as one of the largest auto glass fabrication plants in the world. 

Dayton is also home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which houses a 35,000-person workforce that includes civilian roles. Since around 2018, expansions here (including the Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center) have added hundreds of defense-linked industrial jobs in machining and materials engineering. In addition to Honda, GE Aerospace and an upcoming production facility from Joby Aviation (expected to create up to 2,000 jobs), it’s clearly a place that has skilled industrial workers in demand. 

To meet this need — and with other industries fighting for the same talent — Dayton comes in as one of the better metros in the study for producing industrial graduates and apprentices. As a matter of fact, it tied for third in per-capita completions in industrial programs, and its apprenticeship ratio sits in the top five among the 20 metros. Notably, much of that comes from the University of Dayton’s engineering output; Sinclair’s technician and apprenticeship pipelines; and Wright State’s steady stream of engineers. The Dayton Region Manufacturers Association also assists on the margins by pulling students in through plant tours and career days. 

7. Greenville MSA

Pivotal decisions from the 1970s through the 1990s built the backbone of the Greenville-Anderson, S.C., metro’s industrial workforce, infrastructure and talent pipeline — moves that set the metro on a fast, steady climb. In the study’s results, Greenville ranked second for industrial workforce concentration with 1,524 workers per 10,000 residents in industrial sectors. That pool has also been growing, up 11% between 2018 and 2023. 

In the 1970s, Michelin proved that Greenville could retrain a textile workforce for advanced manufacturing. Then, two decades later, BMW arrived to build what is now its largest plant worldwide. Dozens of suppliers and logistics firms followed, making Greenville a core link in the Southeast auto corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte. This showed the metro’s ability to attract and support major firms through incentives, site prep and infrastructure upgrades. What’s more, BMW has continued to expand, most recently with a $1 billion EV investment at its Spartanburg plant. In parallel, the company and local institutions have built a steady talent pipeline: Clemson’s CU-ICAR program feeds BMW and suppliers, graduating 100 to 200 automotive engineers annually, and the school has launched a major in automotive engineering. Overall, Greenville produces about 29 industrial graduates per 10,000 residents to tie for second-best in the study. 

8. Lehigh Valley MSA

As far back as the 18th century, the Lehigh Valley hosted what’s recognized as the nation’s first industrial park. Two centuries later, in 1959, local leaders launched the Lehigh Valley Industrial Park model — a nonprofit that reinvested proceeds from each site into the next. Throughout roughly 60 years, this produced seven master-planned parks, the last of which was completed in the mid-2000s on former Bethlehem Steel land. For local firms (and those weighing the metro), the continuity of industrial space meant that expansions could stay in-market. That pipeline also helped build a multi-faceted ecosystem that’s now home to advanced manufacturers and logistics operators. 

Today, the Valley ranks among the nation’s most concentrated industrial workforces with 1,499 per 10,000 working-age residents in industrial roles. That pool has been rising, too, up more than 10% from 2018 to 2023. Beyond its industrial parks and skilled labor base, the metro also has an enviable location and logistics-friendly infrastructure, including scoring as the best non-Ohio metro in the rail indicator thanks to access to both Pennsylvania and New Jersey networks. It also ranks high for its ratio of active industrial apprentices. In particular, B. Braun (which has been headquartered in Bethlehem, Penn., since 1979) helped launch the Industrial Training and Education Consortium of the Lehigh Valley to give apprentices paid, hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing alongside classroom training. The company is now investing $20 million in modernization and expansion, supported by $1 million from Pennsylvania First and $500,000 from WEDnetPA. 

9. Louisville MSA

Louisville’s industrial workforce is growing steadily, up about 8% in manufacturing jobs from 2018 to 2023 and with a concentration that ranks high among U.S. metros: Industrial makes up roughly 1,456 per 10,000 working-age residents. Set along the Ohio River, the metro — dubbed “Kentuckiana” — has long been a hub for moving goods and making things. Now, just as we see nationally, it’s shifting toward advanced manufacturing with large-scale projects taking advantage of ample space for EV and battery production. More precisely, Ford is retooling its Louisville Assembly Plant to produce electric trucks with a $2 billion investment set to secure around 2,200 jobs, while GE Appliances is putting $490 million into its headquarters and plant for a new advanced laundry facility, adding about 800 jobs in the process. 

It’s worth noting here that Louisville has precedent for anchor-led clustering: UPS’ Worldport expansion in the early 2000s turned the metro into a logistics hub for freight forwarders, packaging and air cargo. The same pattern is expected from current industrial projects, which are currently sprouting supplier networks around advanced manufacturing. On the training and apprenticeship side, Kentucky FAME’s Louisville chapter is one of the largest in the state, putting students on a two-year, earn-and-learn track with local manufacturers while completing an associate’s degree. At the same time, the University of Louisville’s MAPS program is unusual in that a research university is directly supporting registered apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing. 

10. Akron MSA

Akron’s polymer industry evolved from producing 60% of the world’s tires in the 1920s to advancing sustainable materials today, as exemplified by Bridgestone’s upcoming pilot plant. Supporting this evolution, apprenticeships through the Greater Akron Chamber’s APEX program and Schaeffler’s training programs address the metro’s needs in polymer, machining and automation. It’s bolstered by the University of Akron (UA), which is ranked #1 globally in polymer science and feeds talent pipelines alongside these hands-on initiatives. Accordingly, backed by Goodyear and Bridgestone, Akron ranks as the second-best metro for active apprenticeships per capita (277 per 10,000 residents), another top result from Ohio. 

Furthermore, UA is set to open a new polymer facility next year — a pilot plant for scaling up innovations that will give researchers, startups and companies hands-on space to test production methods in order to ease the jump from lab experiments to commercial products. Funded through Akron’s Polymer Industry Cluster with $31.25 million from Ohio’s Innovation Hubs program (matched by $10.4 million locally), the facility will sit right next to UA’s National Polymer Innovation Center. Construction is set to kick off in the second quarter of 2026. Infrastructure supports this growth, too: Akron earned top points in our rail-density score, tying with five other Ohio metros in the top 20, as the state has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of railway miles relative to surface. 

11. Chattanooga MSA

Chattanooga joined Greenville, S.C., as another fast-rising Southeastern industrial metro after recording the second-fastest workforce growth in the top 20 — up nearly 14% from 2018 to 2023. That pushed its concentration to 1,451 manufacturing jobs per 10,000 residents to rank among the top 10 study-wide and 24% above the U.S. median. 

Here, key players include Volkswagen’s assembly plant, Gestamp for auto parts, Komatsu’s equipment manufacturing and McKee Foods. Logistics firms also cluster along I-75 in the metro’s core. On the reshoring and battery side, NOVONIX’s new Riverside, Tenn., facility will make synthetic graphite for lithium-ion cells. It even announced a second plant nearby, backed by a conditional commitment of up to $754.8 million in federal loans, with full operations targeted by 2028. The area shines in apprenticeships, too: The metro ranked third among all metros for active programs by blending on-the-job training with structured learning. In this area, Chattanooga State Community College delivers programs in automation, electric vehicles, and advanced manufacturing, while a new AI-driven Apprenticeship Hub is rolling out to match workers with trades and tech roles. 

12. Dallas-Fort Worth MSA

Highways, airports, public-private partnerships, a business-friendly state framework, population growth and the pull of a central location all play their part in the metroplex’s industrial appeal. As such, it’s clear that these factors helped Dallas–Fort Worth add more industrial space than any other U.S. market between 2011 and 2020, and today it has nearly twice the development space underway of its peers. Corporate relocations have been part of that story, as well: In the industrial sector, Caterpillar, AECOM and LiquidStack stand out as examples of companies that have moved headquarters to the metro. 

With all this growth, it’s no surprise that the industrial workforce expanded by nearly 10% between 2018 and 2023. But, what may be less obvious is that costs for employers remain competitive — not only because Texas has no state corporate tax, but also because labor overheads run about 5% below the national median. Add in the well-known Texas factor for streamlined permitting, and you see why labels like “Silicon Prairie” are sticking. That can then encourage global players to choose DFW, like Taiwan-based Wistron InfoComm, which is investing in two North Fort Worth facilities that are expected to create more than 850 jobs. Or, it can be enticing to homegrown startups, like tech-firm Adom Industries that’s building a new headquarters and semiconductor fabrication plant in Fort Worth. 

13. Cincinnati MSA

Cincinnati may lean less on industry than it once did, but its industrial base remains strong and diverse. For instance, large industrial companies such as GE Aerospace, Procter & Gamble, and Kroger keep their headquarters here and continue to invest in local facilities. GE Aerospace alone committed $100 million to its Cincinnati-area operations this year, supported by a $9 million JobsOhio grant that is expected to create more than 200 engineering jobs by 2028. Of course, that kind of investment demands a steady flow of talent — and the metro is doing better than most to supply it. To that end, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College trains job-ready industrial workers through applied programs and apprenticeships. And, in 2023, the University of Cincinnati (UC) added new undergraduate and graduate degrees in industrial and systems engineering. UC’s co-op program also places thousands of students each year into industrial roles, and its REVAMP initiative with Cincinnati State reskills workers for advanced production. 

Last, but not least, Cincinnati is also a busy logistics hub. CVG Airport is home to DHL’s Americas super-hub, as well as Amazon Air’s main U.S. base, making it one of the country’s most important cargo gateways. Likewise, freight is constantly in and out, supported by rail lines and heavy roadway access. DHL is also building a $292 million maintenance facility that’s expected to add 300 jobs, while CVG’s new Global Logistics Park will further boost cargo capacity. 

14. Cleveland MSA

Stemming from its earliest 19th-century, machine-tool roots, Cleveland spawned thousands of small, family-owned shops specializing in custom parts for railroads and steel. This small-shop DNA endured because it was adaptable, allowing firms to pivot from supporting those foundational industries to modern sectors, like aerospace and medical devices. Today, that legacy manifests as roughly 55 industrial establishments per 10,000 residents — one of the highest densities among the top 20 metros — with clusters of suppliers in places like of Solon or Mentor feeding giants like Boeing and GE. 

Infrastructure-wise, Cleveland shared the top score in our rail indicator with fellow Ohio metros. Yet, it stakes a particularly fair claim on its network, even against peers like Toledo, as Cleveland’s dense, Class I lines rank among the state’s busiest corridors for freight volume. As a result, this places the metro as a top workhorse for metals, autos and chemicals, further enhanced by direct port connections on Lake Erie. 

15. Northwest Arkansas MSA

Much of Walmart’s early growth comes back to Northwest Arkansas itself. The metro’s spot in the middle of the country made it ideal for distribution and, as the economy shifted from farms to factories, Tyson Foods became one of the nation’s biggest processors and J.B. Hunt turned into a trucking giant. By 1990, the cities pulled together to form the Northwest Arkansas Council, finally giving the area a shared voice on infrastructure and education. That collaboration, mixed with the pull of those three big companies, set the base. By the 2000s, aerospace and bioscience firms showed up in Fayetteville, Ark., and Walmart’s vendor network pulled more than 1,000 supplier offices into Bentonville, Ark. 

Now, more than 1,447 per 10,000 residents work in an industrial role, putting the metro in the upper echelon of the top 20. It also ranks in the better half for both active apprenticeships and industrial program graduates. With a compact population of about 590,000, employer-education ties run close and targeted, like the long-standing ties with the University of Arkansas and Walmart through the Sam M. Walton College of Business and its Supply Chain Management Research Center. Moreover, labor and living costs remain among the most competitive in the top 20. 

16. Des Moines MSA

Des Moines may surprise with its spot in the top 20—a metro more often associated with insurance and tech. Yet from 2018 to 2023, its industrial workforce expanded by nearly one-third (34%), the fastest growth among the top 20 metros overall and second in the full analysis (only Bakersfield, Calif., at 34.5% was higher).

This growth is partly tied to population growth, which drives e-commerce demand and, with it, the arrival of logistics and distribution centers. But that’s common across many metros. More uniquely, Des Moines has built its industrial workforce through reshoring linked to farming, which powers manufacturing jobs in food processing and agricultural machinery. It is also home to a dense concentration (fifth most concentrated among the top 20) of industrial companies, with roughly 54 per every 10,000 residents—a result of the metro having 29 of the country’s largest 100 food manufacturers and processors. Looking forward, expansions in advanced manufacturing (e.g., bioscience, data centers), along with warehousing and distribution, further diversify the economy beyond agriculture alone. Broader tailwinds include its central U.S. location for logistics, state incentives (e.g., no sales tax on machinery), and low business costs, with median industrial wages around 6% below the national median.

Des Moines may surprise with its spot in the top 20 as it’s a metro more often associated with insurance and tech. Yet, from 2018 to 2023, its industrial workforce expanded by nearly one-third (34%) — the fastest growth among the top 20 metros overall and second in the full analysis (only Bakersfield, Calif., was higher at 34.5%). 

This growth is partly tied to population expansion, which drives e-commerce demand and, with it, the arrival of logistics and distribution centers. But, that’s common across many metros. More uniquely, Des Moines has built its industrial workforce through reshoring linked to farming, which powers manufacturing jobs in food processing and agricultural machinery. It’s also home to a dense concentration of industrial companies (the fifth-highest among the top 20) with roughly 54 per 10,000 residents — a result of the metro having 29 of the country’s 100 largest food manufacturers and processors. Looking forward, expansions in advanced manufacturing (such as bioscience, data centers and more), along with warehousing and distribution, further diversify the economy beyond agriculture alone. Broader tailwinds include its central U.S. location for logistics, state incentives (such as no sales tax on machinery) and low business costs, with median industrial wages around 6% below the national median. 

17. Atlanta MSA

Up next, Atlanta (the third-largest metro by population in the top 20) is centrally located in the Southeast, where population growth has sparked demand for supply chain, warehousing and distribution. Fortunately, the metro ranks among the top three in both airport capacity and heavy roadway miles with 3,500 miles of interstates, freeways, and arterials (surpassed only by Chicago and Dallas) and posted a solid rail score, as well. The State of Georgia has backed this infrastructure with a $1.5 billion package for roadwork and a new freight program, while Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is adding a sixth runway. Furthermore, the state ports authority recently completed the Mason Mega Rail Terminal in Savannah, Ga. — the largest on-dock rail facility in North America. 

When it comes to manufacturing, Atlanta, like much of the Southeast, sees momentum around electric vehicles and battery production. The most obvious example is Rivian’s long-term bet on electric as the inevitable future of road travel with its $5 billion plant in Stanton Springs, Ga. Support from Georgia for the project includes up to $1.5 billion in incentives, along with investments in supporting infrastructure, such as road improvements. State backing, coupled with Atlanta’s competitive labor costs, makes the metro highly attractive for prospective employers. 

18. Scranton MSA

Scranton stands out for its strong pipeline of industrial apprentices with about 238 enrolled for every 10,000 residents in one of the highest rates in the study. Meanwhile, regional planning has put manufacturing training at the center of college and workforce efforts, thereby ensuring a steady flow of skilled entrants into local industries. Employers also benefit from accessible financing with loan programs available for smaller expansions and more than $28 million in state redevelopment funds awarded across the metro in 2024 to back larger projects tied to growth. It’s also worth noting that, in a ranking from last year, Scranton landed among the best metros for the newest manufacturing space with 26% of its inventory built after 2000. 

At the same time, Scranton posts some of the lowest industrial median wages in the group, which gives firms a cost advantage, while its location provides access to rail networks in both Pennsylvania and the broader Northeast. 

19. Detroit MSA

Detroit didn’t disappoint in our industrial workforce concentration measure, landing third overall with 1,508 roles per 10,000 residents, or nearly 30% denser than the national average. Here again, major EV-related projects continue to shape the outlook, even amid market adjustments. That includes GM’s $4 billion retooling of the Orion Township plant and Ford’s roughly $2 billion investment in Dearborn, Mich., for expanded EV production capabilities. GM’s Orion project, originally slated for full EV output, has been adapted to include internal-combustion vehicles starting in mid-2026, reflecting slower-than-expected EV demand lately. On the other hand, workforce initiatives like the Michigan Auto Workforce Hub, which launched in 2023, are banking on the projected long-term growth of EVs with a focus on reskilling workers for emerging roles in electrification. Additionally, Henry Ford College’s established battery lab supports this through its Battery Technician Certificate program, which trains students in high-voltage systems and sustainable energy tech. 

That said, infrastructure remains one of the metro’s strongest assets: It has 3,250 miles of freight-ready roads (fourth-highest among the top 20), which includes cross-border trade routes through the Ambassador and Gordie Howe bridges, as well as Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, which is in the middle of more than $1 billion in upgrades. Industrial establishments are dense, as well, with 53 per 10,000 residents for nearly 23,000 in total. 

20. Wichita MSA

Lastly, Wichita built its reputation as the “Air Capital of the World” through a century of aircraft design and production — a heritage that continues to shape the metro’s economy today. At its center is Spirit AeroSystems (the metro’s largest employer with roughly 12,000 workers), which announced in October that it would add 600 more jobs by year-end as it ramps up Boeing fuselage production. Granted, not all aviation roles are manufacturing, and single-sector reliance has carried risks as downturns in the 2000s demonstrated. However, diversification is now advancing through NIAR composites research, Airbus defense contracts, Cargill food processing and smart-factory initiatives. 

These changes matter in a place where aviation still plays an outsized role. Wichita’s industrial workforce stands at 1,475 jobs per 10,000 working-age residents — the fifth-highest ratio among the top 20 metros and 25% above the national average. 

As you might expect, the metro’s universities are deeply tied to industry. For example, Wichita State University (WSU) excels in aerospace and industrial engineering by training students through the PhD level and giving the metro the third-highest ratio of industrial graduate output per capita in the study. Similarly, its applied-sciences branch, WSU Tech, is expanding the National Center for Aviation Training to accommodate another 1,450 students within three years, including new programs in automation and advanced manufacturing.