Client Need
The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) commissioned this study to benchmark the aerospace manufacturing ecosystem in Los Angeles County and understand the workforce dynamics shaping its future. As advanced technologies like AI, digital integration, additive manufacturing, and precision machining accelerate, CREC sought clarity on where skills gaps, educational misalignment, and infrastructure constraints threaten LA’s long-term leadership. The goal: provide a baseline and strategic road map so the LA region can maintain its position as a national hub for aerospace manufacturing.
Results
Aerospace manufacturing advances through six key technology segments, enabling high-performance systems via innovations in materials, electronics, AI, and energy—driving efficiency, precision, and mission-critical reliability in flight and space applications.
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Current and future workforce demand is being shaped by the rise of advanced manufacturing technologies, an aging talent pool, and rapid innovation. Our analysis also identified key challenges, including skills gaps in areas such as additive manufacturing, digital integration, and precision machining; a misalignment between educational programs and industry needs; and limited workforce diversity.
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LA County leads the U.S. aerospace manufacturing sector with a $190B economy, 400+ companies, and 57K+ workers, supported by top-tier R&D, STEM talent, and strategic infrastructure—positioning the region as a critical hub for national security, innovation, and global aerospace logistics.
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The LA/Long Beach/Anaheim region ranks in the top 5 U.S. regions for innovation and talent, driven by over $9B in capital infusion, 25K+ vendors, and a strong STEM workforce—positioning it as a national leader in aerospace and advanced industry development.
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The aerospace manufacturing value chain spans from R&D to maintenance, involving diverse organizations like OEMs, labs, and service providers. Each stage—design, manufacturing, testing, deployment, and overhaul—requires specialized talent and coordination, directly impacting workforce needs and ensuring system performance and long-term operational readiness.
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Approach
By combining PSF’s AI-MI™ technology with traditional analyst research, we:
- Defined 6 aerospace tech segments and expanded terms via OntologyMatch for consistent classification
- EntityMatch applied to 300K+ LA orgs, identifying 1,400 aligned with aerospace segments
- Workforce mapping: Analyzed jobs, education outputs, and skill gaps in key tech segments
- Benchmarking: Compared LA/Long Beach/Anaheim to top U.S. aerospace hubs on R&D, vendors, and STEM talent
- Strategy: Advised LA on investments in education, workforce, vendors, and policy to sustain competitiveness
How can we help you?
We're ready to help you discover the right companies and ecosystem partners, understand technology/market trends and track risk/commercialization potential of your portfolio of companies/contractors.
