When people think about electronics manufacturing, they often picture engineers in labs or the sophisticated equipment used to produce the technologies that power modern life.
Those workers and technologies are essential. But a successful electronics manufacturing sector depends on much more. It requires skilled technicians, assemblers, welders, electricians, logistics professionals, quality-control specialists, and many others whose work keeps a facility running safely and effectively. It also requires educators, employers, and community leaders working together to make sure local residents can access the training needed to pursue these careers.
That is why Broome County is well positioned to support — and sustain — growth in semiconductor and other electronic-component manufacturing.
The numbers tell part of the story. In 2024, semiconductor and electronic-component manufacturing generated $46.9 million in gross domestic product for Broome County. The region produces engineering graduates at three times the national average rate, and computer science and mathematics graduates at twice the national average. And 65 percent of the Northeast’s nanotechnology-related workforce is located in New York State or within 100 miles of its borders.[MH1.1]
Those are meaningful advantages, but the real strength of our region is the network behind those numbers.
At Binghamton University, students and researchers are advancing work in areas such as advanced electronics and semiconductor packaging — fields that will help shape the next generation of American manufacturing. SUNY Broome provides accessible technical education and career pathways that help students prepare for in-demand jobs close to home. BOCES connects high school students and adult learners with hands-on training, industry-recognized credentials and opportunities to explore careers ranging from welding and electrical work to advanced manufacturing.
Together, these institutions help create a workforce pipeline that recognizes there is no single path to a career into this industry.
A student who develops technical skills through a BOCES program may become an electrical or electronics assembler. A SUNY Broome student may pursue the training needed to become a semiconductor processing technician. A Binghamton University graduate may go on to lead research, design new technologies or help a growing manufacturer solve complex challenges. Each role matters, and each represents a family-sustaining career that can help more people build a future in Broome County.
The occupations already supporting this sector also demonstrate the opportunity. Semiconductor processing technicians and electrical, electronics, and electromechanical assemblers are among the jobs that help turn innovation into real products. These jobs are more concentrated in the Binghamton metropolitan area than they are nationally, signaling that our region already has a foundation of relevant skills and experience.
But preparing a workforce is not a one-time task. Employers’ needs evolve. Technology changes and training must keep pace.
The goal is not simply to recruit a company and hope the workforce follows. It is to build the partnerships, programs and infrastructure that allow local people to grow alongside the industry while giving employers a reason to see Broome County as a place where they can put down roots for the long term.
Broome County has always been a place where people come together to make things happen. Our educators understand what students need to succeed. Our employers know the skills that drive their operations. Our public and economic-development leaders can help connect those efforts and plan for what comes next.
