Last week, the PA Chamber convened leaders from industry, government, and academia for a first-of-its kind summit to tackle one of Pennsylvania’s most pressing challenges: building a future-ready engineering workforce. The 2025 PA Chamber Engineering Summit featured timely conversations that stressed collaboration across sectors. Led by Engineering Summit Steering Committee members GFT, Lockheed Martin, S&B USA, and Rettew, as well as representatives from 21 higher education institutions and more than 100 PA Chamber member companies, the event highlighted several actionable steps forward.

 

The Lay of the Land – Identifying the Problem

The event began with PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein highlighting the current workforce landscape. Currently, Pennsylvania employers face a shrinking labor pool, with just 66 available workers for every 100 open jobs.

The lack of available workers is a result of our Commonwealth experiencing a troubling population decline. People—especially young, skilled workers—are leaving for states they perceive as offering more opportunity. This trend doesn’t just impact our communities and schools; it has serious consequences for our economy and our political representation in Washington. Fewer people means fewer congressional seats and less influence; Pennsylvania has lost congressional seats every 10 years—for the past 100 years—the longest streak of any state in the nation. A declining population also means a shrinking tax base to support the services and infrastructure we all rely on.

These challenges are acutely felt in engineering. The U.S. needs about 400,000 new engineers annually, but nearly one in three roles go unfilled each year, a pace projected to continue through at least 2030.

Pennsylvania is attracting major investments, including more than $90 billion for projects focused on energy and innovation, including data centers, that will require engineering talent. But to sustain momentum, we must match investment with strategic workforce development. A lack of skilled workers threatens Pennsylvania’s ability to capitalize on planned investments.

 

Government Wants to Hear from You

Following the introduction remarks, Bernstein moderated a fireside chat with PA Labor & Industry Secretary Nancy Walker and the Commonwealth’s Chief Transformation and Opportunity Officer Ben Kirshner. The key takeaway: the government wants to hear from private industry and higher education about workforce challenges and opportunities.

“Tell us what’s broken so we can fix it” was a common refrain. Targeted investments in education, training, and infrastructure can unlock workforce wins in engineering.

Secretary Walker explained that the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry recently released a new Business Services Guide, which is a practical roadmap for employers seeking to strengthen their workforce through targeted hiring and training support. It outlines no-cost services available via PA CareerLink, including job postings, candidate referrals, job fairs, and customized recruitment strategies to help businesses find qualified talent. For training, the guide highlights programs such as Registered Apprenticeships, On-the-Job Training (OJT), and Incumbent Worker Training, which allow employers to build skills internally while receiving financial support or wage reimbursements. These initiatives are especially valuable for industries requiring specialized skills, including engineering, where apprenticeships and tailored training can help develop a pipeline of technically proficient workers.

 

Panel 1 – Classroom to Career: Aligning Policy, Education, and Industry

The first panel of the day featured a mix of industry and higher education professionals and focused on best practices for aligning education and industry to build talent pipelines and ensure that Pennsylvania students are trained for the skills that industry needs. Frank Flaherty, Lockheed Martin’s Vice President and Chief Engineer, moderated the panel, which included Laurie Roy, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at S&B USA; Dr. James Bretz, Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics at Montgomery County Community College; and William Frantz, Senior Principal Scientist at Armstrong World Industries.

 

Key takeaways from the panel included:

• Offer Credentials That Matter: Higher ed institutions can boost competitiveness by offering short, stackable courses aligned with industry-recognized certifications. These flexible formats meet real-world needs. For instance, Penn State’s College of Engineering offers microcredentials through four-week intensive online courses designed for professionals who are looking to expand their skill set.
• Start Early, End with a Job: From AP Physics in high school to co-ops and apprenticeships, competitive programs that engage students early and offer real job opportunities are key to retaining talent in PA. Universities were encouraged to deepen partnerships with industry. Internships, co-ops, and capstone projects aren’t just student experiences—they’re extended interviews. These programs vary based on duration, but they each offer the same value to both students and employers. Companies should use them to tackle projects and invest in mentorship, housing, and pay to make them meaningful.
• Get Creative with Campus Outreach: Panelists emphasized the growing need for employers to adopt more creative and proactive outreach strategies to engage students on college campuses and build a future-ready workforce. Traditional recruitment methods are no longer sufficient in a competitive talent landscape, especially in engineering and STEM fields. One standout example highlighted was Merck’s innovative approach through Merck Day at Montgomery County Community College, where company representatives—including alumni—hosted robotics demonstrations, resume reviews, and networking sessions to connect with students across disciplines. By creating a dynamic, hands-on experience that showcased career pathways and fostered personal connections, Merck demonstrated how immersive campus events can spark student interest and strengthen talent pipelines.

 

Panel 2 – Refreshing the Brand: Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineering Talent

The second panel, “Refreshing the Brand: Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineering Talent,” brought together thought leaders and emerging voices to reimagine how the engineering profession can better connect with young minds across Pennsylvania. Moderated by Judy Hricak, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at GFT, the discussion featured insights from Jesse Placone, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at West Chester University; Clayton Bubeck, President & CEO of RETTEW and a PA Chamber Board Director; and Emily Calamia, a Shippensburg University student and Civil Engineering Intern at Dawood.

Key takeaways included:

• Learning by Doing: The panel emphasized that inspiring future engineers starts early. Programs like drone soccer for middle schoolers—designed to feed into college-level drone design—and other fun, creative initiatives that apply engineering fundamentals demonstrate how layered, long-term engagement can spark curiosity and sustain interest.
• Reimagining Women’s Participation: Representation was a recurring theme: students need to see engineers who look like them to believe they belong in the field. Despite progress, the underrepresentation of women in engineering remains a persistent challenge. Panelists called for bold, intentional strategies to shift the narrative and create environments where women feel seen, supported, and empowered to lead.
• Engineers, Show Yourselves: Social media emerged as a powerful tool for recruitment and inspiration. The panel encouraged engineers and firms to share short, authentic “day-in-the-life” content to demystify the profession and showcase its creativity, impact, and diversity. These glimpses into real-world engineering can help young people envision themselves in the role.
• A Collective Call to Action: Whether through mentorship, storytelling, or strategic outreach, the panel made it clear: everyone has a role to play in refreshing the brand of engineering. By making the field more accessible, inclusive, and inspiring, Pennsylvania can build a stronger, more diverse pipeline of talent ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.

 

Closing Comments – PA State Reps. Peter Schweyer and Bryan Cutler

Closing out the summit, state Representatives Peter Schweyer and Bryan Cutler—both influential and leading voices on the House Education Committee—underscored the critical role of legislative leadership in strengthening Pennsylvania’s talent pipeline. Their remarks highlighted ongoing efforts to align education policy with workforce needs, ensuring students are equipped with the skills and opportunities to thrive in high-demand engineering and technical fields. It was a fitting conclusion to a day focused on innovation, collaboration, and the future of Pennsylvania’s economy.