Workforce Training / Education
Recent Features
What We’re Getting Wrong About Gen Z’s Future in the Skilled Trades
Employers must modernize their training programs if they want to attract and retain the next generation.
Workforce Is the New Incentive in Life Sciences
Companies choosing where to locate life sciences facilities are prioritizing talent pipelines and workforce adaptability.
How Muskogee Aligned to Win a $1 Billion Lithium Refinery
Targeted infrastructure, homegrown workforce strategies, and transparent community engagement helped bring Stardust Power to town.
In Focus: AI Is Changing Incentives Math
Headcount-focused incentives punish evolving companies, payroll helps reward a different kind of growth.
Why Workforce Readiness Can’t Wait
The training program for the new facility can no longer be delayed until the new facility is nearing completion. It should be instituted the day after the site selection decision is announced
Run a Job Task Analysis
Use this analysis to address skills gaps and boost retention.
Driving the Future of Domestic Battery Recycling: A Conversation with Steven Wu, COO of ABTC
In this exclusive conversation with Area Development, Steven Wu, the newly minted Chief Operating Officer of American Battery Technology Company (ABTC), discusses ABTC’s strategy to play a pivotal role in the U.S. domestic supply chain.
The Workforce Factor: How States Are Competing to Build Tomorrow's Talent
States with top programs share a few elements that make them standout.
Industries Look for Employees in Nontraditional Spaces Amid Labor Shortage
Employers turn to untapped talent pools to address workforce gaps.
Brooklyn Navy Yard’s CNC Training Fuels Its Resurgence
Workforce investments drive modern manufacturing innovation.
St. Louis Aerospace Sector Takes Flight with $5 Billion in Investments and New Task Force
Mound City emerges as a hub for aerospace investments and jobs.
The Cost of Labor and Workforce Skills Necessary for the Transition to an Electrified Auto Industry
Why executives must prioritize workforce skills for the electric vehicle transition.
Midwest becomes hotspot for semiconductor manufacturing and supply industries
Midwestern states compete for semiconductor investments, leveraging new incentives and educational partnerships to attract major industry players.
The CHIPS and Science Act will bring jobs back to the United States
Amidst global shifts and challenges, the U.S. policy is injecting billions to reclaim a stronger position in semiconductor manufacturing and aiming to revitalize a critical sector by 2030.
Applied Learning Fuels Investment in Workforce Training Facilities
With tailwinds such as government incentives and changing vocational preferences, workforce training facilities are poised for continued growth throughout the U.S.
Insights on Staffing and the Location Decision
When selecting a new site, companies today confront an ever-changing landscape of factors to consider, from site and facility planning to workforce analytics and training. Christine Chandler, president of AdvantaStaff, and Lovora Brown, AdvantaStaff’s director of Operations, who bring a combined 50 years’ experience in the manufacturing and distribution industry, provide their perspective on workforce issues that are important to companies’ location decisions.
After the Ribbon Is Cut: Shifting the Talent Strategy to Retention & Upskilling
By upskilling its workforce, a company can improve its overall productivity, while positively impacting employee satisfaction and retention.
Technology’s Influence on Workforce Development
How can a company develop an analytics-focused talent strategy to meet the needs of AI, specialized skillsets, automation, and beyond?
Contributed Content
Laying the Groundwork for Success: Kentucky’s Speed-to-Market Initiatives Are Fueling Future Economic Growth
Kentucky’s Product Development Initiative is translating preparation into performance.
Contributed Content
Tennessee’s Aerospace & Defense Sector Is Scaling with Precision
From advanced testing infrastructure at Arnold Air Force Base to new manufacturing expansions in Morristown and Murfreesboro, Tennessee is aligning workforce, research and site readiness to support the next generation of aerospace and defense investment.
Phillip Morris International Starting Building Before Plans
How a factory went from an idea to operational in about two years.
Contributed Content
Oklahoma’s Competitive Edge: Low Cost, High Performance
A central U.S. location delivering cost stability, logistics reach and industry-focused workforce development.
Contributed Content
Montgomery County, Maryland: A Global Hub for Growth and Innovation
Just outside Washington, D.C., Montgomery County pairs one of the nation’s most educated workforces with federal research assets, transit-connected development, and a deep life sciences cluster poised for its next phase of expansion.
Contributed Content
Plugging into Kansas: Power, Policies and People Will Propel Data Centers
New nuclear innovation, forward-looking energy policy and workforce alignment position Kansas as a scalable partner for next-generation data center investment.
Contributed Content
Life Sciences Successes Validate Virginia’s Partnership-Focused Economic Development Model
Virginia’s life sciences surge in 2025 reflected years of coordinated workforce, education, and site readiness, attracting major investments from Lilly, AstraZeneca, and Merck through fast permitting and partnership-driven economic development.
Editor's Note: The Year Site Selection Grew Up
Energy availability takes center stage as companies compete for grid capacity and rethink growth strategies
Building the Nation's First AI-Ready Workforce
“Charm City” is forging technology partnerships to build an AI workforce equipped to serve every industry.
Laying the Future’s Foundation in Rowen
Georgia’s newest innovation district bets big on climate-ready infrastructure and long-term planning.
Reclaiming the Launchpad
How Mississippi is turning a federal legacy into a commercial space hub.
Contributed Content
How Virginia Minimizes Risk for New Facilities
How shovel-ready sites and talent programs are helping Virginia win major manufacturing projects.
First Person: Brent Omdahl, SVP Government Affairs for Global Wafers
The EVP for Government Affairs at GlobalWafers shares insights on a $3.5 billion investment in Sherman, Texas, workforce development, and how the CHIPS Act has reshaped semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S.
Contributed Content
Kansas Helping Transition Service Members, Families into New Careers
With innovative programs such as SkillBridge — and dedicated workforce development professionals at KANSASWORKS — Kansas is a strong player in assisting and placing veterans and their families into promising careers.
Contributed Content
Tennessee’s Bold Investment in Nuclear Innovation and Workforce
Strengthening its nuclear ecosystem with major investments in workforce training, advanced research, and industry growth.
Around the Horn: Incentives and Workforce Development with Amy Gerber and Kathy Mussio
Area Development's Andrew Greiner speaks with economic development incentives experts Amy Gerber of Cushman & Wakefield and Kathy Mussio of Atlas Insight. Together, they discuss the evolving landscape of tax incentives, the shift toward workforce.
Contributed Content
Middlesex County Attracts High-Technology Investments
With robust infrastructure, cutting edge technology, a skilled workforce, a pro-business climate, and comprehensive supply chain support, Middlesex County nurtures a thriving business community.
Contributed Content
Virginia Talent Accelerator Program Serves Up Workforce Training for Tyson Foods
A $93 million investment in workforce training through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program and Danville Community College sealed the deal for Tyson Foods' new plant, driving economic growth and job creation in Southern Virginia.
