The fortunes of the labor market are the economic indicators we perhaps feel the most as individuals. For our labor market forecast, we use two distinct metrics. The first is the “payroll report” from the Department of Labor, which indicates the number of jobs lost or created each month, and is broken up by sector. The other is a division of the number of people who have looked for work in the prior four weeks but who do not have a job, by how many people are currently in the labor force.
To help you understand this sector, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will update you on major developments (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). Here’s the latest forecast… Here is our latest labor market forecast…
As federal money flows to homegrown semiconductor manufacturing, a shortage of skilled workers looms.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
A case in point is electrical engineers, who will be in high demand over the next decade. The CHIPs and Science Act, which doled out $53 billion in funding to domestic chip manufacturing and research, is poised to create tens of thousands of jobs that require electrical engineering degrees.
Not enough home-grown talent to power the labor market
U.S. colleges don’t come close to producing enough talent. Foreign students, without permanent resident status, obtain a large share of degrees from U.S. colleges in the field. They are effectively barred from filling vital positions in the military and other national security-sensitive sectors, and many leave after graduation.
To fill the gap, the U.S. will have to produce more electrical engineering college graduates. That will require boosting interest in the field among high schoolers and even young kids, plus revamping college curricula to keep kids in the major.
Overall graduation rates for electrical engineering majors are disappointing, according to expert analysis.
More funding is needed to fill shortages
More funding by the states will likely be needed to expand the overall electrical engineering slots. Immigration rules will also need to change for more grads to stay in the U.S., a challenge with such a contentious issue.
The chip industry will be lobbying hard. The field will see rising demand and has a very high average starting salary, around $111,000 per year, as of 2021. Plus, the chip industry will see exciting research and breakthroughs in the coming year and a whole lot more domestic manufacturing.
This forecast first appeared in the Kiplinger Letter, which has been running since 1925 and is a collection of concise weekly forecasts on business and economic trends, as well as what to expect from Washington, to help you understand what’s coming up to make the most of your investments and your money. Subscribe to the Kiplinger Letter or try a free issue.
Related content
- April Jobs Report Tops Expectations: What the Experts Are Saying
- Kiplinger's Jobs Outlook
- The Best Semiconductor Stocks
-
Can I Stop Social Security and Restart it Later?This articles explains what is required to stop and restart Social Security and details how to do it.
-
Six Estate Planning Tips for Younger Generations
Millennials and Gen Zers are taking their estate planning seriously. These tips can help make the process seem less daunting.
-
FDA Approves Zepbound, the Latest Weight-Loss Drug: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Eli Lily’s Zepbound will undercut its rivals’ pricing but still costs over $1,000 a month.
-
More Signs of Belt-Tightening and a Slowing Economy: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Although fewer banks are tightening lending standards, more businesses and households are feeling the squeeze.
-
Small Businesses Hit Extra Hard by Rising Interest Rates: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter On average, small business owners are paying interest rates in the range of 9.1%, per the NFIB.
-
The Recent Uptick In Global Trade Won’t Last: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Global trade continues to fall as economic growth around the world cools.
-
Consumers Have $1 Trillion More Savings Post-Pandemic: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter GDP data show Americans have more savings than they did pre-pandemic.
-
Once-Booming Gun Sales Have Slumped: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Since 2022, FBI background checks, a close proxy for gun purchases, have slumped.
-
The Battle for Net Neutrality Rules Rages On: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Advocates remain hopeful new net neutrality rules will survive, while the telecom industry and business groups seek to prevent FCC action.
-
Autonomous Trucks Are Coming to a Road Near You: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter What does the rollout of autonomous trucks and cars mean for the commercial sector?
