A new report from Pew Charitable Trusts suggests that BEAD’s $42.5 billion broadband rollout will require tens of thousands of new fiber and telecom workers—presenting major opportunities amid a nationwide labor shortage
The Pew report, released Oct. 30 2025, shows that 41 states and D.C. have already flagged workforce gaps as a top challenge for meeting BEAD goals. While worker shortages risk slowing down deployments, they also mark a once-in-a-generation career opportunity for tradespeople, engineers, and technicians seeking stable, well-paid work.
Among the most in-demand roles:
- Fiber and wireless technicians
- Network engineers and architects
- Electricians, trenching crews, and heavy-equipment operators
- Radio-frequency and field engineers
“The pool of skilled telecommunications workers is shrinking just as demand is rising sharply,” Pew noted, urging policymakers to expand training pipelines and credential programs.
Source: Fiber Broadband Association and Power & Communication Contractors Association, Broadband Market Workforce Needs, 2024. © 2025 The Pew Charitable Trusts
A Tight Labor Market—and a Chance to Rebuild It
The telecom workforce has aged and contracted since its 2001 peak. Nearly 20 percent of current workers are over 55, while fewer young people are entering the field. Yet BEAD’s funding could help reverse that trend by offering steady, well-paying employment in communities nationwide.
Training, however, takes time. Pew’s analysis found that most programs require 12 to 24 months before new recruits are job-ready—meaning states must ramp up outreach now to meet 2026–2028 build schedules.
Standardizing Data and Training
A surprising obstacle is inconsistent federal job data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics still lacks a “broadband” job category, which makes it difficult to track labor demand or funding impacts. Pew calls for closer coordination between federal and state agencies, training providers, and broadband companies to align definitions and create national certification standards.
Number of telecommunications employees in August of each year, in thousands.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment, Hours, and Earnings from the Current Employment Statistics Survey (National), 1990-2025 © The Pew Charitable Trusts
Wages and Competition
Although demand is high, telecom wages have remained largely flat, even as companies compete with other infrastructure projects for workers. Pew suggests that employers may need to raise compensation and strengthen career pathways to attract and retain talent—especially as many BEAD projects launch in rural or remote areas.
The Takeaway
Pew’s study frames the broadband workforce gap not only as a risk but as an economic development opportunity.
If states can expand training, standardize job classifications, and support competitive pay, BEAD could deliver more than universal internet—it could build a durable, skilled workforce for the next decade of connectivity.
Share of all telecommunications workers, by age
Source: John Schmitt and Jori Kandra, Decades of Slow Wage Growth for Telecommunications Workers, 2020
Read the full Pew Issue Brief:
Demand for Broadband Workforce Expected to Rise to Meet BEAD Requirements – © 2025 The Pew Charitable Trusts
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