What skills will the workforce need?

Today, the Innovation Corridor does not lack for innovation, well trained workers or high-technology companies. However, given the aging population and changing demographics, this may be a serious problem in the future. This is particularly so given the expected national gap or 14 million by 2020 between skilled workers and the larger number of jobs that require will require them. The Southern portion of the Innovation Corridor is most at risk given the large number workers lacking a high school diploma, ironically the are with greatest manufacturing concentration. The San Francisco Bay area is also at risk.

Of the 20 manufacturing occupations with the largest expected employment growth, over half require less than an associate degree, with most requiring on-the-job training or work experience. Forty percent of the high-growth occupations require a bachelor's degree or higher, and one requires an associate degree. The future workforce literacy skills required for the Innovation Corridor will require a higher level than those of the past.