Addressing the U.S. Quantum Labor Shortage Before It’s Too Late

By Dr. Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C)

There is a global race underway to lead in the critical and emerging technology (CET) area of quantum technologies. Nations are launching national initiatives and making significant investments of public funds in this area knowing that their economic and national security is at stake. Yet, without adequate talent, these initiatives will falter or fail. The competition for talent is a global competition that the U.S. can’t afford to lose.

The Quantum Labor Landscape

Occupations related to emerging technology sectors such as quantum are inherently new and are often multidisciplinary. They are characterized by a rapid growth in demand that outstrips supply, thereby creating a shortage of qualified workers.

A survey of QED-C members in early 2024 aimed to better understand current hiring trends and challenges as it relates to the shortage. Many respondents planned on hiring quantum workers in 2023, with some planning to hire up to 12. However, out of the 22 companies that responded with a hiring goal, almost 60 percent said they did not meet that goal by the end of the year. And when they did manage to hire, almost 80 percent said that it took between two and six months to fill an open position and 16 percent said it took up to a year.

The challenges to hiring talented workers remained similar to those identified in QED-C’s 2020 survey. In 2024, the largest barriers to hiring quantum talent include the following:

• Lack of candidates with required/desired qualifications (61 percent of survey respondents);
• Lack of candidates with the right to work in the U.S. (39 percent); and
• The amount of time required to get a visa (22 percent).

67 percent of respondents agreed that it has become more difficult to recruit qualified quantum workers in the past year, and 92 percent agreed that there is a shortage of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with quantum qualifications.

Some countries have implemented programs aimed to expedite and lower barriers for skilled workers to immigrate. Canada’s Express Entry, for example, streamlines the skilled worker application management process. The target for Express Entry is 110,700 permanent resident admissions in 2024, rising to 117,500 in 2025 and 2026.

Through collective industry data and awareness efforts in the U.S., the lack of qualified talent is being recognized, and efforts to attract and retain top quantum researchers and workers are part of programs such as the National Quantum Initiative. Yet, without expediting and lowering barriers for skilled workers to immigrate, the U.S. will not be able to compete for top talent.

What is a Quantum Worker?

The occupation “quantum technologist” can be described as a technical professional with skills related to the design, research, development, production, manufacture, or sale of quantum-based hardware or software systems or critical enabling components. The skills, expertise, education or training required depends on the specific role.

As an emerging technology, advancement in quantum technologies spans from basic research at universities and national laboratories to applied research, product development and manufacture at businesses small and large. Occupations in all of these sectors are essential to U.S. competitiveness. Most positions at universities and national laboratories require a PhD and possibly post-doctoral training, in fields ranging from physics or chemistry to engineering and computer science. Jobs in industry however have more diverse requirements in terms of skills or knowledge and preferred degree.

A study based on a 2020 survey of QED-C member companies found that:

• Companies in the quantum ecosystem include hardware and software developers, engineering research firms, suppliers of enabling technologies, and service providers (e.g. patent firms);
• There are many different jobs or work roles;
• Different jobs have different skills and knowledge requirements; and
• The preferred degree for various quantum jobs ranges from associate to bachelor to master to PhD.

The study showed that most jobs do not have quantum in the title, most frequently sought skills are not quantum-specific (e.g. experience in programming or working with lasers), and most jobs do not require a PhD, a bachelor’s or master’s degree is preferred.

Addressing the Shortfall in Quantum Workers Using Schedule A

In a recent RFI, The Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) asked for input on how to modernize the Schedule A occupation shortage list. Schedule A is an expedited pathway to obtain permanent residency, also known as a green card. But currently, no STEM occupation is listed on Schedule A. Challenges facing the U.S. quantum ecosystem and other emerging technology sectors would be greatly mitigated if the Schedule A occupation list were updated to include those that are essential to the critical and emerging technology (CET) areas identified by the National Science and Technology Council.

With a growing proportion of U.S. STEM programs populated by international students, companies will continue to be reliant on workers who require work authorization to remain in the United States. This is a primary pipeline of top-notch talent who hopefully will become permanent residents and eventually citizens. Using Schedule A to address the shortage of qualified STEM workers, particularly for positions related to quantum, is one way that the Department of Labor could help businesses to attract and retain qualified workers.

QED-C, which partners with many government agencies, can provide information about the skills and knowledge that employers in CET industries require and regarding the supply and demand of qualified talent. At the core of a successful quantum business or a top-notch university quantum research program are talented people. There is fierce competition for qualified workers in all parts of the quantum ecosystem. Together, we must address the U.S. quantum labor shortage before it’s too late.

QED-C is an industry-driven consortium of stakeholders, managed by SRI, that aims to enable and grow the quantum industry. In accordance with the 2018 National Quantum Initiative Act, the consortium was established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S. Department of Commerce.  Today, QED-C has more than 240 members from across the quantum ecosystem, including corporations, universities, and national laboratories.  More than 40 government agencies are engaged in QED-C as a means to achieve their respective missions.