Read, Watch or Listen

At a defense summit in Fort Wayne, Navy Secretary John Phelan said the shipbuilding industry must raise wages to attract and keep skilled workers, noting it is hard to lure people into welding in tight spaces when pay matches jobs at Buc-ee's or Amazon. He called competitive pay central to rebuilding expertise, alongside better conditions, training, automation, housing, and benefits. GAO reports show shipyards struggling to replace seasoned workers, a gap tied to delays and cost overruns. Huntington Ingalls Industries says investments in experienced hires and regional training are yielding early results, prompting cautious optimism.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.