The US shipbuilding industry is confronting longstanding workforce challenges that directly affect Navy readiness. Key issues include labor shortages in essential trades such as welding, coupled with poor recruitment and retention rates. During a recent subcommittee hearing, experts emphasized the importance of enhancing wages, improving working conditions, and investing in workforce stability. Committee members, including Sen. Trent Kelly, stressed the urgency of reforming procurement processes and increasing investments in the industrial base to ensure the sustainability of shipbuilding operations going forward.
In my view, nothing is more important than addressing the critical labor shortages that afflict all the shipbuilding and public maintenance yards.
To say this plainly, we must act now. Whether through changes to our procurement processes, stronger industrial base investments, or cultural shifts within shipbuilding program offices, we need to make these decisions sooner rather than later.
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