Students inspect an engine during class at Everett Community College’s Aviation Maintenance Technician School. (Olivia Vanni / Herald file)

Students inspect an engine during class at Everett Community College’s Aviation Maintenance Technician School. (Olivia Vanni / Herald file)

Study: A smarter workforce is needed to win Boeing 797

To remain an aerospace powerhouse, Washington needs to boost its investment in education.

EVERETT — If Washington wants to retain its standing as an aerospace powerhouse, it should consider boosting investment in K-12 education, technical programs and colleges and universities throughout the state, according to a new report from the Choose Washington New Middle-Market Airplane Council.

The council, an alliance of elected officials and business and union leaders, hopes to convince Chicago-based Boeing Co. to build its next passenger airplane model in Washington.

The latest report, “Aerospace Workforce Development; Strategy and Recommendations,” offers a score of suggestions to increase the number of aerospace workers through education and training opportunities.

The council is sharing the report with private and public leaders for consideration during the upcoming legislative session.

Boeing’s so-called middle-market airplane, informally dubbed the 797, would fit somewhere between the largest 737 and the smallest 787, filling a niche left by the discontinuation of the Renton-built 757. The Boeing board of directors has not yet given the project the go-ahead, but state leaders continue to push their case for building it in Washington.

Analysts expect Boeing to make a decision this year or next, according to the council.

The aerospace giant hasn’t indicated what criteria it might use to determine if and where to build the new plane, but ever since the company located a 787 assembly line in South Carolina, leaders here have been nervous about losing out.

While the state can boast “the largest concentration of experienced aerospace and advanced manufacturing workers in the world — competition for this talent is fierce,” the report says. Washington also faces “looming retirement and gaps in the supply of workers,” factors that could affect the state’s standing in the eyes of Boeing.

“Washington’s continued leadership in aerospace — and many other sectors — depends on having the top skills and talent available to meet current and future employer needs,” Gov. Jay Inslee said in a prepared statement.

“Collaborative strategies, such as those outlined by the NMA Council, alongside investments in career-connected education and training programs, will enable every Washingtonian to participate fully in the economy and every Washington company to compete successfully around the world,” Inslee said.

The report follows a separate, independent aerospace study, which the council released in June.

That study, the “Aerospace Competitiveness Economics Study,” measured key factors such as electricity costs, deep-water ports and private investment in research and development — all of which received high marks from the author, Richard Aboulafia, one of the world’s best-known aerospace industry analysts. His firm, the Teal Group, prepared the independent study.

The Aboulafia report found that Washington was the most competitive state by a healthy margin for aerospace development, followed by Ohio, North Carolina, Kansas and Colorado.

However, it pointed to two areas in which the state could improve: infrastructure, roads and more roads, and education.

Aboulafia told state leaders that those issues are easy to address.

As part of an apparent response to the education issue, the council assembled 25 education, labor, business and political leaders, many with Snohomish County ties, to review K-12 instruction, apprenticeship programs, worker training and college and university aerospace programs.

Participants included David Beyer, president of Everett Community College; Dana Riley Black, executive director of STEM programs at Everett Public Schools; and Mary Kaye Bredeson, executive director of the Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing, housed at Everett Community College.

Beyer co-led the study with Chelsea Orvella, legislative director for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA).

Beyer called the report “a comprehensive effort” aimed at informing private and political leaders of the need to improve the pipeline for aerospace and skilled workers.

Improving the education sector so that it continues to “thrive and grow and be inclusive” is key, Beyer said, “not only for entry-level workers and young people who come through the pipeline but also existing workers … to make sure their skills are up-to-date.”

Among the report’s recommendations:

• Expand and inspire greater interest in aerospace careers at the K-12 level through industry tours, company classroom visits and support of Core Plus, a two-year curriculum that prepares high school students for college and entry-level manufacturing jobs.

• Modernize and increase student enrollment at aerospace community and technical college programs and upgrade the equipment students train on. (A state grant recently allowed Everett Community College to add a second shift at its Aviation Maintenance Technician School, doubling enrollment.)

• Increase apprenticeship opportunities through greater access to on-the-job training for students throughout the state, especially in aerospace.

• Expand research and development and four-year degree programs at universities around the state.

• Help existing aerospace workers acquire additional skills through continuing education and training programs.

Janice Podsada; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3097; Twitter: JanicePods

Washington’s aerospace supercluster

• 136,100 skilled aerospace workers.

• 714 commercial aircraft produced in 2017.

• Aerospace engineers per 1,000 jobs: Washington, 2.8; Alabama, 2.3; Kansas, 1.7; Maryland, 1.2; U.S. average, 0.5.

Source: Choose Washington New Mid-Market Airplane Council

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

A closing sign hangs above the entrance of the Big Lots at Evergreen and Madison on Monday, July 22, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Big Lots announces it will shutter Everett and Lynnwood stores

The Marysville store will remain open for now. The retailer reported declining sales in the first quarter of the year.

George Montemor poses for a photo in front of his office in Lynnwood, Washington on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Despite high mortgage rates, Snohomish County home market still competitive

Snohomish County homes priced from $550K to $850K are pulling in multiple offers and selling quickly.

Henry M. Jackson High School’s robotic team, Jack in the Bot, shake hands at the 2024 Indiana Robotics Invitational.(Henry M. Jackson High School)
Mill Creek robotics team — Jack in the Bot — wins big

Henry M. Jackson High School students took first place at the Indiana Robotic Invitational for the second year in a row.

The computer science and robotics and artificial intelligence department faculty includes (left to right) faculty department head Allison Obourn; Dean Carey Schroyer; Ishaani Priyadarshini; ROBAI department head Sirine Maalej and Charlene Lugli. PHOTO: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College.
Edmonds College to offer 2 new four-year degree programs

The college is accepting applications for bachelor programs in computer science as well as robotics and artificial intelligence.

FILE — Boeing 737 MAX8 airplanes on the assembly line at the Boeing plant in Renton, Wash., on March 27, 2019. Boeing said on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, that it was shaking up the leadership in its commercial airplanes unit after a harrowing incident last month during which a piece fell off a 737 Max 9 jet in flight. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times)
Federal judge rejects Boeing’s guilty plea related to 737 Max crashes

The plea agreement included a fine of up to $487 million and three years of probation.

Neetha Hsu practices a command with Marley, left, and Andie Holsten practices with Oshie, right, during a puppy training class at The Everett Zoom Room in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Tricks of the trade: New Everett dog training gym is a people-pleaser

Everett Zoom Room offers training for puppies, dogs and their owners: “We don’t train dogs, we train the people who love them.”

Andy Bronson/ The Herald 

Everett mayor Ray Stephenson looks over the city on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015 in Everett, Wa. Stephanson sees  Utah’s “housing first” model – dealing with homelessness first before tackling related issues – is one Everett and Snohomish County should adopt.

Local:issuesStephanson

Shot on: 1/5/16
Economic Alliance taps former Everett mayor as CEO

Ray Stephanson will serve as the interim leader of the Snohomish County group.

Molbak's Garden + Home in Woodinville, Washington will close on Jan. 28. (Photo courtesy of Molbak's)
After tumultuous year, Molbak’s is being demolished in Woodinville

The beloved garden store closed in January. And a fundraising initiative to revitalize the space fell short.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, Advanced Manufacturing Skills Center executive director Larry Cluphf, Boeing Director of manufacturing and safety Cameron Myers, Edmonds College President Amit Singh, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 2 celebrating the opening of a new fuselage training lab at Paine Field. Credit: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College
‘Magic happens’: Paine Field aerospace center dedicates new hands-on lab

Last month, Edmonds College officials cut the ribbon on a new training lab — a section of a 12-ton Boeing 767 tanker.

Gov. Jay Inslee presents CEO Fredrik Hellstrom with the Swedish flag during a grand opening ceremony for Sweden-based Echandia on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Swedish battery maker opens first U.S. facility in Marysville

Echandia’s marine battery systems power everything from tug boats to passenger and car ferries.

Helion Energy CEO and co-founder David Kirtley talks to Governor Jay Inslee about Trenta, Helion’s 6th fusion prototype, during a tour of their facility on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
State grants Everett-based Helion a fusion energy license

The permit allows Helion to use radioactive materials to operate the company’s fusion generator.

People walk past the new J.sweets storefront in Alderwood Mall on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Japanese-style sweets shop to open in Lynnwood

J. Sweets, offering traditional Japanese and western style treats opens, could open by early August at the Alderwood mall.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.