Workforce Needs
National Defense Strategy
2022 Overview
The 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS) serves as the Department of Defense’s comprehensive guide for how the United States responds to global threats, collaborates with allies, and invests in people, technology, and industry.
For workforce and economic development professionals, the NDS is vital because it sets the direction that later shows up in funding opportunities, industrial investments, and long-term demand for talent in defense-related sectors.
The NDS emphasizes four key priorities:
Defend the homeland.
Protect the United States against growing, multi-domain threats—especially those posed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Deter strategic attacks.
Prevent attacks on the U.S., our allies, and partners—whether military, cyber, space, or other forms of coercion.
Deter aggression and, if necessary,
prevail in conflict.
Focus first on the PRC challenge in the Indo-Pacific, followed by the Russia challenge in Europe, while managing other threats such as North Korea, Iran, and violent extremist organizations.
Build a resilient Joint Force and defense ecosystem.
Strengthen the people, systems, industries, and supply chains that support the U.S. military—at home and with allies.
The strategy names the PRC as the “pacing challenge” for the Department and identifies Russia as an “acute threat.” At the same time, it highlights the need to manage other regional and non-state threats that also shape defense investments and industrial needs.
Resilience, Allies, and the Defense Ecosystem
The NDS places special emphasis on resilience, which is the ability to withstand, fight through, and recover quickly from disruptions. That includes:
- Physical attacks on infrastructure
- Cyber and information attacks
- Supply chain shocks and workforce shortages
The NDS also underscores that alliances and partnerships are a lasting U.S. strength. The U.S. increasingly works with allies and partners at every stage—from planning and exercises to supply chains and technology development. This has direct implications for where manufacturing occurs, how supply chains are structured, and what types of skills are required.
Why this matters to local workforce development efforts
Drives Investments in Skills Training and Education Programs
The NDS’s focus on technological superiority and supply chain resilience results in targeted funding for upskilling and reskilling workers in high-demand areas, such as STEM, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and defense-specific trades (e.g., nuclear welding for submarines). For local systems, that can mean new resources for career pathways, technical programs, and apprenticeships tied to defense needs.
Boosts Local Job Creation Through Defense Contracts and Expansion
By prioritizing domestic production and onshoring to counter foreign dependencies, the NDS spurs economic activity in regions with defense suppliers or facilities. This also involves revitalizing the Organic Industrial Base (e.g., government-owned depots and shipyards), requiring substantial resources that generate employment in maintenance, logistics, and manufacturing at the community level.
Addresses Labor Shortages and Promotes Career Awareness
The NDS highlights workforce gaps—such as a 63.5% drop in DIB employment since 1985 and projected needs for nearly 100,000 skilled workers in submarine production over the next decade—that affect military readiness and trickle down to local economies. To mitigate this, initiatives work to destigmatize industrial careers by partnering with schools to emphasize benefits like competitive wages and national security contributions, while expanding access for underutilized groups (e.g., reentry populations) and fostering innovation hubs in regions with non-traditional suppliers. Local workforce and economic development organizations can leverage these efforts to enhance outreach, career awareness, and access to high-quality jobs.
You can use the NDS to:
- Align regional strategies with national security and industrial priorities
- Strengthen the case for investment in local training and infrastructure
- Frame partnerships with employers, education providers, and community organizations around national goals
