{"id":4857,"date":"2025-11-14T12:51:45","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T12:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/blog\/?p=4857"},"modified":"2025-11-14T13:40:41","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T13:40:41","slug":"best-metros-for-industrial-workforce-in-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-industrial-workforce-in-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 20 U.S. Metros Most Workforce-Ready for Industrial Employers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">Reshoring is driving new manufacturing investment across America. Since early 2025, companies have announced more than\u202f<\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW159272047 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.globalxetfs.com\/articles\/manufacturing-revival-creates-tailwinds-for-u-s-infrastructure-spending\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW159272047 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">$1.2 trillion<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">\u00a0in projects<\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">\u2014<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">one of the largest waves of industrial development in decades. But<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">\u00a0as they decide where to build, the hardest resource to secure\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">isn\u2019t<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">\u00a0land, power<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">\u00a0or water<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">I<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">t\u2019s people. From 2024 to 2033, manufacturers will need about\u202f<\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW159272047 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/themanufacturinginstitute.org\/manufacturers-need-as-many-as-3-8-million-new-employees-by-2033\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW159272047 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">3.8 million new employees<\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">, and roughly half of those jobs<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">\u2014<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">around 1.9 million<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">\u2014<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW159272047 BCX8\">could go unfilled if workforce shortages persist, according to The Manufacturing Institute.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW159272047 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The best places for employers to grow, then,\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0just those with strong infrastructure, like\u00a0roads,\u00a0rail\u00a0and airports.\u00a0Rather,\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0metros with concentrated workforces, robust training programs, strong educational\u00a0institutions\u00a0and policymakers\u00a0in sync\u00a0with industry skill needs.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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;\u00a0infrastructure;\u00a0and financial considerations.\u00a0Given the\u00a0central role\u00a0of workforce and education, it\u00a0accounts\u00a0for 44 of the 100 available points,\u00a0while the other categories capture\u00a0logistics\u00a0and economic viability.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"datawrapper-chart-gXpdJ\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" title=\"Top 20 Workforce Ready Cities for Industrial Employers\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/gXpdJ\/7\/\" height=\"582\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Symbol map\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";r.style.height=d}}})}();<\/script><\/p>\n<h2>1. Toledo MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">Toledo, Ohio, topped the overall ranking of the\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">U.S. metro areas\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">that are\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW14754106 BCX8\">best-suited<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">for industrial employers. Despite its\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">relatively small<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">\u00a0population of about 600,000, the metro outperformed larger peers thanks to a strong concentration of industrial workers per capita<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">as well as<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">\u00a0a<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">\u00a0standout performance in our calculation of active apprentices in industrial sectors per capita. Here,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">roughly 322<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\"> active apprentices per 10,000 residents <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">represents<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\"> the highest share in the full study among all metros. This estimate starts with state-level figures and adjusts them to each metro\u2019s local population. It also highlights Ohio\u2019s overall strength as a leader in apprenticeships: <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">A<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">cross all industries, the state ranks third nationwide in total numbers, trailing only\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW14754106 BCX8\">giants<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW14754106 BCX8\">\u00a0Texas and California.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW14754106 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"96a4677b-4fab-4b02-bd52-965f1b923898\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Industrial Employers #1\"><\/div>\n<p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p>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 \u2014 funding tied to its federal State Apprenticeship Expansion support. <span data-contrast=\"auto\">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 \u2014 such as Johns Manville, auto giant Stellantis and Libbey Glass \u2014 thereby allowing the metro to sustain its traditional strengths, like specialized glass production (earning it the nickname, \u201cGlass City\u201d).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As technology advances, a metro\u2019s established strengths can open new opportunities. In Toledo, glassmaking skills are now\u00a0feeding\u00a0into solar panel production.\u00a0For example,\u00a0First Solar is expanding its Perrysburg facilities to increase U.S. output, bringing hundreds of new manufacturing and R&amp;D jobs through 2026.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>2. Grand Rapids MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">Grand Rapids came\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">in<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">as the second-best metro overall for industrial employers<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">by earning<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">\u00a0the highest score for industrial workforce concentration. The metro counts about 1,681 industrial workers per\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">10,000 residents<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">(<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">roughly 195,000<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">\u00a0people out of a\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">population of 1.2 million<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">)<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">spread across manufacturing,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">logistics<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">, warehousing, production\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">floors<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86615020 BCX8\">\u00a0and office roles.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW86615020 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"3d8ef603-a731-49c1-a16c-c3993f8a5e46\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Industrial Employers #3\"><\/div>\n<p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Looking at why Grand Rapids has such a concentrated pool takes you back to its roots as \u201cFurniture City,\u201d when\u00a0one-third of the local labor force worked in wood shops. As furniture production spread post-World\u00a0War\u00a0II, those skills carried into metals, plastics, and tooling,\u00a0consequently\u00a0drawing in aerospace and auto suppliers.\u00a0Then, by the late 20th century, regional manufacturers were leaning into R&amp;D, paving the way for newer strengths in biopharma and medical devices. Today,\u00a0that mix shows up in a\u00a0range\u00a0of employers that keep the industrial base broad.\u00a0For instance,\u00a0Steelcase and Herman Miller remain with their furniture and office systems, while Perrigo and other biopharma firms build on the region\u2019s R&amp;D footing. Medical-device makers\u00a0also\u00a0cluster around Grand Rapids\u2019 health sector, and aerospace and auto suppliers round out the metals and plastics side.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Taken together,\u00a0these industries\u00a0speak\u00a0to the concentration of industrial establishments per capita\u00a0with some 63 firms per\u00a010,000 residents\u00a0registered across the metro area. That density ranked\u00a0second-highest\u00a0among the top 20 metros, behind\u00a0only Chicago.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>3. Indianapolis MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">Indianapolis rounded out the top three metros overall<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">\u00a0by<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">\u00a0boasting a talent pipeline specific to industrial sectors<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">particularly in addressing gaps in bachelor<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">&#8211;<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">level and leadership roles.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">That\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">\u00a0because 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\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">roughly one<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">\u00a0in five advanced manufacturing job openings across the state<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW121160765 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conexusindiana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/AMW-FINAL-PDF-1.pdf%22%20\/t%20%22_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"SCXW121160765 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW121160765 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">requires postsecondary education<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW121160765 BCX8\">.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW121160765 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"1a7264e5-37ef-4aa5-8fd6-ed1dae6881f9\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Industrial Employers #5\"><\/div>\n<p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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\u00a0certificates\u00a0and online programs,\u00a0in addition to\u00a0serving\u00a0as 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.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">On the ground, the\u00a0metro\u2019s\u00a0concentration of industrial workers ranks just outside\u00a0of\u00a0the top half among the top 20 overall metros, but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0been growing steadily\u00a0\u2014\u00a0up roughly 5% in the number of roles within industrial sectors. Meanwhile, large global manufacturers continue to invest in the metro,\u00a0as\u00a0exemplified by Roche Diagnostics and its $550 million expansion of manufacturing capacity, which also highlights the area\u2019s ties to biotech and life sciences. For small- to medium-sized manufacturers, the state\u2019s Manufacturing Readiness Grant initiative has seen recipients among Indianapolis-area firms.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>4. Chicago MSA<\/h2>\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">Simply\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">due to<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0its sheer scale, we can expect that Chicago scored well across multiple indicators<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">like i<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">nfrastructure<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0for starters:\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">T<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">he metro recorded the most miles of heavy roads among the top 20 metros in our ranking<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u2014<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">nearly\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">5,000<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0miles<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0within the metro area, according to Federal Highway Administration data.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">Similarly,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW237805962 BCX8\">the Windy<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0City\u2019s r<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">ail and airports<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0rank among the\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">very best<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0in density and number. Chicago also tops the list for industrial establishment density<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0with about 67 firms per\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">10,000 residents<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0and more than<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a062,000 industrial companies across the metro. That density stems partly from the city\u2019s Planned Manufacturing Districts, which\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">have\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">long protected industrial clusters. However, some zones, especially<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0those<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0near the city center, have recently loosened for mixed-use projects<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">consequently<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237805962 BCX8\">\u00a0creating micro-ecosystems that could give advanced manufacturers a pathway to integrate with bioscience and tech firms.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW237805962 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"64d0926a-9758-484b-9f6c-2f8134872556\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Industrial Employers #4\"><\/div>\n<p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">That said, r<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">ight now, the most striking example of industrial and technology converging may be Chicagoland\u2019s push into quantum computing. On the South Side, the former South Works steel plant<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">, which\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">once employ<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">ed<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">20,000 people<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">is slated to become the Illinois Quantum Manufacturing Park<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">The a<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">nchor tenant\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW224215039 BCX8\">PsiQuantum<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">(<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">a California startup<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">)<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">\u00a0plans to build the\u202f<\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW224215039 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/chicago-wants-to-build-the-silicon-valley-of-quantum-computing-8da25981\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW224215039 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">nation\u2019s first utility-scale quantum computer<\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">\u202f<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW224215039 BCX8\">there by<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">\u00a02028. Backing includes $500 million from Illinois and $5 million each from the\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">C<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">ity of Chicago and Cook County.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW224215039 BCX8\">PsiQuantum<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">\u00a0is also set to receive about $200 million in state incentives,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">which is\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">contingent\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">up<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW224215039 BCX8\">on creating at least 154 full-time jobs.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW224215039 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>5. Memphis MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">Already home to the busiest cargo airport in the U.S. and the nation\u2019s third-larges<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">t rail\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">hub, Memphis is often called America\u2019s distribution center.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW255727154 BCX8\">And,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">FedEx\u2019s World Hub at Memphis International Airport\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">under<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">score<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">s\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">that role. The nation\u2019s top cargo facility by volume<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW255727154 BCX8\">, it<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">\u00a0employs about 13,000 people. As a result, th<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW255727154 BCX8\">e metr<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">o has one of the strongest industrial workforce densities in the top 20<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">\u00a0with<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">\u00a01,463 workers per\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">10,000 residents<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">or\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\">about 29% above the national average. Manufacturing, too, has seen a host of expansions this\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW255727154 BCX8\">year<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW255727154 BCX8\"> creating new jobs.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"bb1c3ea9-e610-4005-8fe6-7e10a808a089\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Industrial Employers #5\"><\/div>\n<p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">In fact, Memphis is currently\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">under<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">going\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">a massive industrial development phase<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0\u2014<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0one\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">of the largest in the county by square feet\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW238201925 BCX8\">currently<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0under construction. Yardi Research data\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">shows that<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">the Memphis market\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">has<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">12.5 million square feet<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0underway<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">(<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">just Dallas, Houston and Phoenix\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">have<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">larger active pipelines). Here, BlueOval City <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u2014\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">Ford\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">$5.6 billion<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a04 million square<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0feet<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0for EV and battery campus<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0\u2014<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0at the edge of Memphis is one clear explanation for the inflated pipeline.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">Plus, s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">uch projects matter not only for the facilities themselves<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0but<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0also<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0for how they attract suppliers, build new\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">logistics<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">ecosystems<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0and test a region\u2019s ability to meet employer workforce needs. Fortunately, at least in terms of skilled trades, technicians<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">\u00a0and engineers, Memphis was one of the better<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">&#8211;<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238201925 BCX8\">performing metros. Local institutions like the University of Memphis\u2019 Herff College of Engineering graduate students from a mechanical engineering program with a focus on advanced manufacturing.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW238201925 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"fca7cf4b-6205-4443-b10c-fb6582144ef9\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Industrial Employers P6-10\"><\/div>\n<p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>\n<h2>6. Dayton MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dayton\u2019s industrial workforce has been on the rise, up\u00a0nearly 8%\u00a0from 2018 to 2023\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a steady recovery for a manufacturing base long central to the area. Earlier, one particular decision from\u00a0\u00a0global firm\u00a0Fuyao Glass\u00a0gave a clear jolt\u00a0by\u00a0hiring industrial skilled workers and tapping into the metro\u2019s workforce\u00a0wisdom\u00a0for manufacturing and its facilities from earlier eras:\u00a0In 2014, Fuyao put $600 million into repurposing the old GM Moraine facility that had closed six years earlier,\u00a0consequently\u00a0bringing back more than 2,000 jobs. Today,\u00a0the plant stands as one of the largest auto glass fabrication plants in the world.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dayton is also home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which houses a 35,000-person workforce that includes civilian roles.\u00a0Since around 2018,\u00a0expansions here (including the\u00a0Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center)\u00a0have added hundreds of defense-linked industrial jobs\u00a0in\u00a0machining and materials engineering.\u00a0In addition to\u00a0Honda, GE\u00a0Aerospace\u00a0and an upcoming production facility from Joby Aviation (expected to create up to 2,000 jobs),\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0clearly\u00a0a place that has skilled industrial workers in demand.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To meet this need\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and with other industries fighting for the same talent\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Dayton\u00a0comes in\u00a0as one of the better metros in the study for producing industrial graduates and apprentices.\u00a0As a matter of fact, it\u00a0tied for third in per-capita completions in industrial programs, and its apprenticeship ratio sits\u00a0in the\u00a0top five among the 20 metros.\u00a0Notably, much of that comes from the University of Dayton\u2019s engineering output;\u00a0Sinclair\u2019s technician and apprenticeship pipelines;\u00a0and Wright State\u2019s steady stream of engineers. The Dayton Region Manufacturers Association\u00a0also\u00a0assists\u00a0on\u00a0the margins\u00a0by\u00a0pulling students in through plant tours and career days.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>7. Greenville MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pivotal decisions from the 1970s through the 1990s built the backbone of the Greenville-Anderson, S.C., metro\u2019s industrial workforce, infrastructure and talent pipeline \u2014 moves that set the metro on a fast, steady climb. In the study\u2019s 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.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the 1970s,\u00a0Michelin proved\u00a0that Greenville could retrain a textile workforce for advanced manufacturing. Then, two decades later,\u00a0BMW arrived to build what is now its largest plant worldwide. Dozens of suppliers and\u00a0logistics\u00a0firms followed, making Greenville a core link in the Southeast auto corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte. This\u00a0showed the metro\u2019s ability to attract and support major firms through incentives, site\u00a0prep\u00a0and infrastructure upgrades.\u00a0What\u2019s\u00a0more,\u00a0BMW has continued to expand, most recently with a\u00a0$1 billion\u00a0EV investment at its Spartanburg plant. In parallel, the company and local institutions have built a steady talent pipeline:\u00a0Clemson\u2019s CU-ICAR program feeds BMW and suppliers, graduating 100\u00a0to\u00a0200 automotive engineers annually, and the school has launched a\u00a0major\u00a0in\u00a0automotive\u00a0engineering. Overall, Greenville produces about 29 industrial graduates per\u00a010,000 residents\u00a0to\u00a0tie\u00a0for second-best in the study.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>8. Lehigh Valley MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As far back as the 18th century, the Lehigh Valley hosted\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0recognized as the nation\u2019s first industrial park. Two centuries later, in 1959, local leaders launched the Lehigh Valley Industrial Park model\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a nonprofit that reinvested proceeds from each site into the next.\u00a0Throughout\u00a0roughly 60 years,\u00a0this produced seven master-planned parks, the last\u00a0of which was\u00a0completed in the mid-2000s on former Bethlehem Steel land. For local firms\u00a0(and those weighing the metro),\u00a0the continuity of industrial space meant\u00a0that\u00a0expansions could stay in-market. That pipeline also helped build a multi-faceted ecosystem\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0now\u00a0home to advanced manufacturers and\u00a0logistics\u00a0operators.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Today,\u00a0the Valley ranks among the nation\u2019s most concentrated industrial workforces\u00a0with 1,499\u00a0per 10,000\u00a0working-age residents\u00a0in industrial roles. That pool has been rising,\u00a0too, up more than 10% from 2018 to 2023. Beyond its industrial parks and skilled labor base, the metro\u00a0also\u00a0has an enviable location and logistics-friendly infrastructure,\u00a0including\u00a0scoring 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.\u00a0In particular,\u00a0B.\u00a0Braun\u00a0(which has been\u00a0headquartered in Bethlehem, Penn.,\u00a0since 1979)\u00a0helped launch the Industrial Training and Education Consortium of the Lehigh Valley\u00a0to\u00a0give\u00a0apprentices 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\u00a0WEDnetPA.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>9. Louisville MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Louisville\u2019s industrial workforce is growing steadily, up about 8% in manufacturing jobs from 2018 to 2023\u00a0and\u00a0with a concentration that ranks high among U.S. metros:\u00a0Industrial makes up\u00a0roughly 1,456\u00a0per 10,000 working-age residents. Set along the Ohio River, the metro\u00a0\u2014\u00a0dubbed\u00a0\u201cKentuckiana\u201d\u00a0\u2014\u00a0has long been a hub for moving goods and making things. Now,\u00a0just as\u00a0we see nationally,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0shifting toward advanced manufacturing\u00a0with large-scale projects taking advantage of ample space for EV and battery production.\u00a0More precisely,\u00a0Ford is retooling its Louisville Assembly Plant to produce electric trucks with a\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/tennesseelookout.com\/2025\/08\/12\/ford-will-launch-a-new-ev-platform-and-electric-pickup-truck-at-louisville-plant\/%22%20\/t%20%22_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">$2 billion\u00a0investment set to secure around 2,200 jobs<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, while GE Appliances is putting $490 million into its headquarters and plant for a new advanced laundry facility, adding about 800 jobs\u00a0in the process.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s\u00a0worth noting here that\u00a0Louisville has precedent for anchor-led clustering:\u00a0UPS\u2019\u00a0Worldport expansion in the early 2000s turned the metro into\u00a0a logistics\u00a0hub for freight forwarders,\u00a0packaging\u00a0and air cargo. The same pattern is expected from current industrial projects,\u00a0which\u00a0are\u00a0currently\u00a0sprouting supplier networks around advanced manufacturing. On the training and apprenticeship side, Kentucky FAME\u2019s Louisville chapter is one of the largest in the state, putting students on a two-year,\u00a0earn-and-learn track with local manufacturers while completing an\u00a0associate\u2019s\u00a0degree.\u00a0At the same time, the University of Louisville\u2019s MAPS program is unusual in that a research university is directly supporting registered apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>10. Akron MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Akron\u2019s polymer industry evolved from producing 60% of the world\u2019s tires in the 1920s to advancing sustainable materials today,\u00a0as\u00a0exemplified by Bridgestone\u2019s\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/signalakron.org\/bridgestone-to-build-pilot-butadiene-plant-in-akron\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">upcoming pilot plant<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Supporting this evolution, apprenticeships through the Greater Akron Chamber\u2019s APEX program and Schaeffler\u2019s training programs address the\u00a0metro\u2019s\u00a0needs in polymer,\u00a0machining\u00a0and automation.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0bolstered by the University of Akron (UA),\u00a0which is\u00a0ranked\u00a0#1 globally in polymer science\u00a0and\u00a0feeds talent pipelines alongside these hands-on initiatives.\u00a0Accordingly, 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.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Furthermore, UA is set to open a new polymer facility next year\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a pilot plant for scaling up innovations that will give researchers,\u00a0startups\u00a0and companies hands-on space to test\u00a0production methods\u00a0in order to\u00a0ease\u00a0the jump from lab experiments to commercial products. Funded through Akron\u2019s Polymer Industry Cluster\u00a0with $31.25 million from Ohio\u2019s Innovation Hubs program (matched by $10.4 million locally), the facility will sit right next to UA\u2019s National Polymer Innovation Center.\u00a0Construction\u00a0is\u00a0set to kick off in the second quarter of\u00a02026. Infrastructure supports this growth,\u00a0too: Akron earned top points in our rail-density score,\u00a0tying\u00a0with five other Ohio metros in the top 20, as the state has one of the nation\u2019s highest concentrations of railway miles\u00a0relative\u00a0to surface.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"818ed0d3-513c-4a2f-b0a3-e0a6f73cc5e6\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Industrial Employers P11-15\"><\/div>\n<p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>\n<h2>11. Chattanooga MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Chattanooga joined Greenville, S.C.,\u00a0as another fast-rising Southeastern industrial metro\u00a0after\u00a0recording the second-fastest workforce growth in the top 20\u00a0\u2014\u00a0up\u00a0nearly 14%\u00a0from 2018 to 2023. That pushed its concentration to 1,451 manufacturing jobs per\u00a010,000 residents\u00a0to\u00a0rank\u00a0among the top 10 study-wide\u00a0and 24% above the U.S. median.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Here, key players include Volkswagen\u2019s assembly plant, Gestamp for auto parts, Komatsu\u2019s equipment\u00a0manufacturing\u00a0and McKee Foods.\u00a0Logistics\u00a0firms\u00a0also\u00a0cluster along I-75 in the\u00a0metro\u2019s\u00a0core. On the reshoring and battery side, NOVONIX\u2019s new Riverside,\u00a0Tenn.,\u00a0facility will make synthetic graphite for lithium-ion cells.\u00a0It even\u00a0announced 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,\u00a0too:\u00a0The metro ranked third among all metros for active programs\u00a0by\u00a0blending on-the-job training with structured learning.\u00a0In this area,\u00a0Chattanooga 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.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>12. Dallas-Fort Worth MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Highways, airports, public-private partnerships, a business-friendly state framework, population growth\u00a0and the pull of a central location all play their part in the metroplex\u2019s industrial appeal.\u00a0As such,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0clear\u00a0that\u00a0these factors helped Dallas\u2013Fort Worth\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/blog\/industrial-real-estate-decade-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">add more industrial space than any other U.S. market between 2011 and 2020<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and today it has\u00a0nearly twice\u00a0the development space underway of its peers. Corporate relocations have been part of that story, as well:\u00a0In the\u00a0industrial sector, Caterpillar,\u00a0AECOM\u00a0and\u00a0LiquidStack\u00a0stand out as examples of companies that have moved headquarters to the metro.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With all this growth,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0no surprise\u00a0that\u00a0the industrial workforce expanded by\u00a0nearly 10%\u00a0between 2018 and 2023.\u00a0But,\u00a0what may be less obvious is that costs for employers\u00a0remain\u00a0competitive \u2014 not only because Texas has no state corporate tax, but also because labor overheads run about 5% below the national median.\u00a0Add in\u00a0the well-known Texas factor for streamlined permitting, and you see why labels like \u201cSilicon Prairie\u201d are sticking. That can\u00a0then\u00a0encourage\u00a0global players\u00a0to\u00a0choose\u00a0DFW, like Taiwan-based Wistron InfoComm,\u00a0which is\u00a0investing in two North Fort Worth facilities\u00a0that are\u00a0expected to create\u00a0more than\u00a0850 jobs. Or,\u00a0it can be\u00a0enticing to\u00a0homegrown startups, like tech-firm Adom Industries\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0building a\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fortworthedp.com\/fort-worth-lands-adom-industries-229m-ai-native-cloud-factory-and-hq\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">new headquarters and semiconductor fabrication plant in Fort Worth<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<h2>13. Cincinnati MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cincinnati may lean less on industry than it once did, but\u00a0its\u00a0industrial base\u00a0remains\u00a0strong and diverse.\u00a0For instance, large industrial companies such as GE Aerospace, Procter &amp; 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.\u00a0Of course, that kind of investment demands a steady flow of talent\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and the metro is doing better than most to supply it.\u00a0To that end,\u00a0Cincinnati State Technical and Community College trains job-ready industrial workers through applied programs and apprenticeships. And,\u00a0in 2023,\u00a0the\u00a0University of Cincinnati\u00a0(UC)\u00a0added new undergraduate and graduate degrees in\u00a0industrial and\u00a0systems\u00a0engineering. UC\u2019s co-op program\u00a0also\u00a0places thousands of students each year into industrial roles, and its REVAMP initiative with Cincinnati State reskills workers for advanced production.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Last,\u00a0but not least, Cincinnati is\u00a0also\u00a0a busy\u00a0logistics\u00a0hub. CVG Airport is home to DHL\u2019s Americas super-hub,\u00a0as well as Amazon Air\u2019s main U.S. base, making it one of the country\u2019s most important cargo gateways.\u00a0Likewise, freight is constantly\u00a0in and out, supported by rail lines and heavy roadway access. DHL is\u00a0also\u00a0building a $292 million maintenance facility\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0expected to add 300 jobs, while CVG\u2019s new Global Logistics Park will further boost cargo capacity.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>14. Cleveland MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Stemming from its earliest 19th-century,\u00a0machine-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,\u00a0like aerospace and medical devices. Today, that legacy manifests as roughly 55 industrial establishments per\u00a010,000 residents\u00a0\u2014\u00a0one of the highest\u00a0densities among the top 20 metros\u00a0\u2014\u00a0with clusters of suppliers in\u00a0places\u00a0like\u00a0of\u00a0Solon or Mentor\u00a0feeding giants like Boeing and GE.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Infrastructure-wise, Cleveland shared the top score in our rail indicator with fellow Ohio metros. Yet,\u00a0it stakes a particularly fair claim on its network,\u00a0even against peers like Toledo, as\u00a0Cleveland\u2019s\u00a0dense,\u00a0Class I lines rank among the state\u2019s busiest corridors for freight volume.\u00a0As a result, this\u00a0places\u00a0the metro as a top workhorse for metals,\u00a0autos\u00a0and chemicals, further enhanced by direct\u00a0port connections\u00a0on\u00a0Lake Erie.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h2>15. Northwest Arkansas MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Much\u00a0of\u00a0Walmart\u2019s\u00a0early\u00a0growth\u00a0comes back to Northwest\u00a0Arkansas itself. The\u00a0metro\u2019s\u00a0spot in the middle of the country made it ideal for distribution\u00a0and,\u00a0as the economy shifted from farms to factories, Tyson Foods became one of the nation\u2019s biggest processors and J.B. Hunt turned into a trucking giant. By 1990,\u00a0the 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\u00a0three\u00a0big\u00a0companies, set the base. By the 2000s,\u00a0aerospace and bioscience firms showed up in Fayetteville,\u00a0Ark.,\u00a0and Walmart\u2019s vendor network pulled more than 1,000 supplier offices into Bentonville, Ark.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Now,\u00a0more than 1,447\u00a0per\u00a010,000\u00a0residents\u00a0work in an industrial role, putting the metro in the upper\u00a0echelon\u00a0of 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\u00a0and Walmart through the Sam M. Walton College of Business and its Supply Chain Management Research Center.\u00a0Moreover, labor and living costs\u00a0remain\u00a0among the most competitive in the top 20.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"274a294f-5742-4526-9bcd-35b0a4256452\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Industrial Employers P16-20\"><\/div>\n<p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>\n<h2>16. Des Moines MSA<\/h2>\n<p>Des Moines may surprise with its spot in the top 20\u2014a 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).<\/p>\n<p>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&#8217;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\u2014a result of the metro having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dsmpartnership.com\/economic-development\/economic-climate\/case-studies\/food-technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">29 of the country&#8217;s largest 100 food manufacturers and processors.<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Des Moines may surprise with its spot in the top 20\u00a0as\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a metro more often associated with insurance and tech. Yet,\u00a0from 2018 to 2023, its industrial workforce expanded by nearly one-third (34%)\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the fastest growth among the top 20 metros overall and second in the full analysis (only Bakersfield, Calif.,\u00a0was higher\u00a0at 34.5%).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This growth is partly tied to population\u00a0expansion, which drives e-commerce demand and, with it, the arrival of\u00a0logistics\u00a0and distribution centers.\u00a0But,\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0common 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.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0also home to a dense concentration\u00a0of industrial companies\u00a0(the\u00a0fifth-highest\u00a0among the top 20)\u00a0with\u00a0roughly 54\u00a0per\u00a010,000 residents\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a result of the metro having\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dsmpartnership.com\/economic-development\/economic-climate\/case-studies\/food-technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">29 of the country\u2019s\u00a0100\u00a0largest\u00a0food manufacturers and processors<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0Looking forward, expansions in advanced manufacturing (such as\u00a0bioscience, data centers\u00a0and more), along with warehousing and distribution, further diversify the economy beyond agriculture alone. Broader tailwinds include its central U.S. location for\u00a0logistics, state incentives (such as\u00a0no sales tax on machinery)\u00a0and low business costs<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0with median industrial wages around 6% below the national median.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>17. Atlanta MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Up next, Atlanta\u00a0(the third-largest metro by population in the top 20)\u00a0is centrally\u00a0located\u00a0in the Southeast, where population growth has\u00a0sparked\u00a0demand for supply chain,\u00a0warehousing\u00a0and distribution.\u00a0Fortunately, the metro ranks among the top three in both airport capacity and heavy roadway miles\u00a0with\u00a03,500 miles\u00a0of interstates, freeways, and arterials\u00a0(surpassed only by Chicago and Dallas)\u00a0and posted a solid rail score,\u00a0as well.\u00a0The State of\u00a0Georgia has backed this infrastructure with a\u00a0$1.5 billion\u00a0package for roadwork and a new freight program, while Hartsfield-Jackson\u00a0Atlanta International Airport is adding a sixth runway. Furthermore,\u00a0the state ports authority recently completed the Mason Mega Rail Terminal in Savannah,\u00a0Ga. \u2014\u00a0the largest on-dock rail facility in North America.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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\u2019s long-term bet on electric as the inevitable future of road travel\u00a0with its\u00a0$5 billion\u00a0plant in Stanton Springs, Ga. Support from Georgia for the project includes up to\u00a0$1.5 billion\u00a0in incentives, along with investments in supporting infrastructure,\u00a0such as road improvements. State backing, coupled with Atlanta\u2019s competitive labor costs, makes the metro highly attractive for prospective employers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>18. Scranton MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Scranton stands out for its strong pipeline of industrial apprentices\u00a0with about 238 enrolled for every\u00a010,000 residents\u00a0in\u00a0one of the highest rates in the study.\u00a0Meanwhile, regional planning has put manufacturing training at the center of college and workforce efforts,\u00a0thereby\u00a0ensuring a steady flow of skilled entrants into local industries. Employers also\u00a0benefit\u00a0from accessible financing\u00a0with 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.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0also worth noting that, in a ranking from last year, Scranton\u00a0landed among the best metros for the newest manufacturing space\u00a0with\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-manufacturing-in-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">26% of its inventory built after 2000<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At the same time, Scranton posts some of the lowest industrial median wages in the group,\u00a0which\u00a0gives\u00a0firms a cost advantage, while its location provides access to\u00a0rail networks\u00a0in both\u00a0Pennsylvania\u00a0and the broader Northeast.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>19. Detroit MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Detroit\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0disappoint in our industrial workforce concentration measure, landing third overall with 1,508 roles per\u00a010,000 residents,\u00a0or\u00a0nearly 30%\u00a0denser than the national average.\u00a0Here again, major EV-related projects continue to shape the outlook, even amid market adjustments. That\u00a0includes\u00a0GM\u2019s\u00a0$4 billion\u00a0retooling of the Orion Township plant and Ford\u2019s\u00a0roughly\u00a0$2 billion\u00a0investment\u00a0in Dearborn, Mich.,\u00a0for expanded EV production capabilities. GM\u2019s Orion project, originally slated for full EV output,\u00a0has been adapted to include internal-combustion vehicles starting in mid-2026, reflecting slower-than-expected EV demand lately. On the other hand, workforce initiatives\u00a0like\u00a0the Michigan Auto Workforce Hub,\u00a0which\u00a0launched in 2023, are\u00a0banking\u00a0on the projected long-term growth of EVs\u00a0with a focus on reskilling workers for emerging roles in electrification.\u00a0Additionally, Henry Ford College\u2019s established battery lab supports this through its Battery Technician Certificate program,\u00a0which\u00a0trains\u00a0students in high-voltage systems and sustainable energy tech.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That said, infrastructure\u00a0remains one of the metro\u2019s strongest assets: It\u00a0has\u00a03,250 miles\u00a0of freight-ready roads (fourth-highest among the top 20), which\u00a0includes cross-border trade routes through the Ambassador and Gordie Howe bridges,\u00a0as well as\u00a0Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, which is in the middle of more than\u00a0$1 billion\u00a0in upgrades. Industrial establishments are dense,\u00a0as well, with 53 per\u00a010,000 residents\u00a0for\u00a0nearly 23,000\u00a0in total.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>20. Wichita MSA<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Lastly,\u00a0Wichita built its reputation as the \u201cAir Capital of the World\u201d through a century of\u00a0aircraft\u00a0design and production\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a heritage that continues to shape the\u00a0metro\u2019s\u00a0economy today. At\u00a0its\u00a0center is Spirit AeroSystems\u00a0(the metro\u2019s largest employer with\u00a0roughly 12,000\u00a0workers), which announced in October\u00a0that\u00a0it would add 600 more jobs by year-end as it ramps up Boeing\u00a0fuselage production.\u00a0Granted, not all aviation roles are manufacturing,\u00a0and\u00a0single-sector reliance has carried risks\u00a0as downturns in the 2000s\u00a0demonstrated.\u00a0However, diversification is now advancing through NIAR composites research, Airbus defense contracts, Cargill food\u00a0processing\u00a0and smart-factory initiatives.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">These changes matter in a place where aviation still plays an outsized role. Wichita\u2019s industrial workforce stands at 1,475 jobs per 10,000 working-age residents\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the fifth-highest ratio among the top 20 metros and 25% above the national average.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As you might expect, the\u00a0metro\u2019s\u00a0universities are deeply tied to industry.\u00a0For example,\u00a0Wichita State University (WSU) excels in aerospace and industrial engineering\u00a0by\u00a0training students through the PhD level and giving the metro the third-highest ratio of industrial graduate output per capita in the study.\u00a0Similarly, its applied-sciences branch, WSU Tech, is expanding the National Center for Aviation Training to accommodate another 1,450 students within three years,\u00a0including\u00a0new programs\u00a0in automation and advanced manufacturing.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"datawrapper-chart-m17Iq\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" title=\"Top 100 U.S. Metros Most Workforce-Ready for Industrial Employers (Points Earned) Click any column header to filter the table, and use the arrows to see beyond the top 20 U.S. metros.\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/m17Iq\/33\/\" height=\"994\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Table\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";r.style.height=d}}})}();<\/script><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";r.style.height=d}}})}();<\/script><\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"datawrapper-chart-e85tD\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" title=\"Methodology\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/e85tD\/5\/\" height=\"1029\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Table\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">window.addEventListener(\"message\",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";r.style.height=d}}});<\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reshoring is driving new manufacturing investment across America. Since early 2025, companies have announced more than\u202f$1.2 trillion\u00a0in projects\u00a0\u2014\u00a0one of the largest waves of industrial development in decades. But,\u00a0as they decide where to build, the hardest resource to secure\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0land, power\u00a0or water.\u00a0It\u2019s people. From 2024 to 2033, manufacturers will need about\u202f3.8 million new employees, and roughly half of those jobs\u00a0\u2014\u00a0around 1.9 million\u00a0\u2014\u00a0could go unfilled if workforce shortages persist, according to The Manufacturing Institute.\u00a0 The best places for employers to grow, then,\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0just those with strong infrastructure, like\u00a0roads,\u00a0rail\u00a0and airports.\u00a0Rather,\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0metros with concentrated workforces, robust training programs, strong educational\u00a0institutions\u00a0and policymakers\u00a0in sync\u00a0with industry skill needs.\u00a0 With that&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3163,"featured_media":5297,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commercial-real-estate-reports","category-industrial-real-estate-reports"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Top 20 U.S. Metros for Industrial Workforce Readiness<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Reshoring is driving advanced manufacturing and logistics projects that require skilled workers. 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