Bridging the Labor GAP: Leveraging Immigration Policy to Address Workforce Shortages in the U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Industrial Base

Abstract

The U.S. naval shipbuilding industrial base faces a critical workforce crisis that undermines fleet readiness and strategic deterrence in an era of great-power competition. With major programs facing multi-year delays and domestic workforce initiatives falling short, this research explores how U.S. immigration policy can be leveraged to mitigate skilled-trade shortages. Using Bardach’s Eightfold Path, this study analyzes three policy alternatives: creating a new sector-specific visa, expanding existing visa programs, and implementing bilateral labor agreements. The alternatives were evaluated against criteria of legal feasibility, security considerations, and logistical challenges. The analysis finds that a bilateral labor agreement, executed in conjunction with an amended visa pathway, offers the most robust solution. This approach leverages pre-screened, skilled labor pools from allied nations that already support U.S. Navy maintenance overseas, minimizing security and logistical hurdles. The study recommends pursuing targeted bilateral agreements as a potentially more effective and efficient policy lever to supplement the domestic workforce, bridge critical skill gaps, and revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.