🚀 Quantum Leap: Why the US Needs a Quantum Workforce Now
A major technology revolution is on the horizon, but there's a serious alarm being sounded: the United States is at risk of falling behind. A prominent quantum computing executive is urgently calling for the private, public, and academic sectors to massively step up efforts to prepare thousands of people to support the emerging quantum industry.
Failing to act with sufficient momentum could hand the lead to global economic competitors, creating severe, long-term consequences for every part of the US economy. This is a clear warning that demands immediate, national attention.
From Classical Chips to Quantum Qubits
For decades, classical computing has been the reliable engine of our digital world, powering everything from our phones to massive data centers. It's predictable science, based on manipulating electricity, has continually improved processing speed year after year.
However, quietly growing in research labs is a completely different approach: quantum computing. Based on the unusual, sometimes counterintuitive, behavior of quantum physics, scientists discovered a path to remarkably fast algorithmic processing. The tantalizing prospect? Computers that could potentially solve specific types of tasks hundreds, thousands, or even millions of times faster than traditional computers.
This promise—especially in areas like optimization problems (routing, scheduling) where it shows great promise for saving time, money, and energy—has led to increasing investment and recent, significant breakthroughs. This isn't just a research curiosity; it has the attention of governments worldwide. The US federal government, across multiple administrations, has made it a strategic priority, putting it alongside artificial intelligence.
Tech giants like Microsoft and IBM are deep in R&D, and the startup ecosystem is booming. For example, Google recently announced a major milestone, demonstrating its quantum hardware and software outperforming classical supercomputers on specific tasks. While full commercialization is still a few years away, the momentum is undeniable.
The Executive Sounding the Alarm 🚨
Zachary Yerushalmi, CEO and co-founder of the Colorado-based nonprofit Elevate Quantum, has a front-row seat to this revolution—and he's worried. His organization, founded in 2023 with significant federal and state investment, was created to accelerate the quantum industry across the Rocky Mountain West and the entire nation.
Surprisingly, this region—Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico—is a global quantum leader. The reason? The US Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) research hub in Colorado has been a primary site for quantum research since the 1950s and has produced four Nobel Prize winners! This focused expertise attracted the best minds and generated local ecosystems, including fabs (facilities for building quantum hardware) and startups, much like Silicon Valley did for semiconductors. Today, this area has over 3,000 people in the industry, 50 times more than any other region in the country.
Yerushalmi is seeing a massive, unmet demand for a qualified workforce. He believes raising national awareness and motivating the development of the right skills is critical to building a dominant US quantum industry. Failing to do so means potentially yielding the lead to a global competitor.
The Quantum Workforce: It's Not All PhDs
Historically, the quantum field has been intensely science-based, requiring advanced degrees in physics, chemistry, and mathematics. But as the industry moves toward a potentially multi-trillion-dollar commercial reality, the workforce landscape is rapidly changing.
While the demand for advanced degrees remains strong, the urgent and growing need is for blue-collar and technical talent.
"Eighty percent of the workforce needed for the commercialization of the quantum industry doesn’t necessarily require an advanced degree, and many won’t require a degree at all."
Moving from the lab to commercial-scale manufacturing requires tens of thousands of people in roles such as:
🛠️ Assembly
❄️ Industrial Refrigeration
💡 Electronics and Electrical
🏭 Facilities Management
📦 Packaging
🔧 Field Service and Maintenance
This is the workforce challenge before leaders right now: creating a plan to train and onboard this talent in a compressed timeline and making potential employees aware of these high-demand, new economy jobs.
Enabling Our Quantum Future
The federal government views a US-dominated quantum industry not just as an economic opportunity, but as a national security priority. This transformation has a role for every part of society:
Preparation is Key: Organizations across all sectors need to start learning about quantum technology, its benefits, and how it could shape their operations and offerings. For instance, the convergence of quantum computing and artificial intelligence is worth appreciating sooner rather than later.
Mitigate Risks: A future with powerful quantum computers also means learning about the risks they pose to existing cryptography and cybersecurity. C-suite executives should be asking their IT teams about this risk today.
Job Creation: This massive new industry promises to generate a significant number of jobs and economic growth in communities across the country.
While challenges remain, the emergence of the quantum industry offers a vast array of opportunities for businesses, cities, entrepreneurs, and government.
Let's ensure the US doesn't miss the boat.
What role do you think academic institutions should play in quickly developing the necessary blue-collar quantum trade skills?