New Whitepaper Reveals Urgent Workforce Challenges Facing the Fiber Broadband Industry
The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) and NCTI have released a landmark whitepaper, "Employer Workforce Preparedness in the Fiber Broadband Industry: How Build-Ready Are We?", highlighting an urgent need for proactive workforce development across the telecommunications sector.
With nearly 70% of today's fiber optic technicians approaching retirement, the report warns of an impending shortage of skilled labor that could slow fiber expansion and threaten national broadband goals. Based on the Broadband Workforce Training and Development Effectiveness Survey conducted in spring 2025, the study provides insight into the current state of training, skills, and readiness within the fiber industry.
Key findings include:
- 87% of companies rely primarily on on-the-job training (OJT), a model at risk as veteran workers retire.
- 73% of in-house training programs are rated only somewhat effective or ineffective, often due to time constraints and lack of measurable outcomes.
- Only 10% of the fiber technician workforce is between ages 20 and 30, revealing a pressing need to attract and credential younger talent.
- 62% of employers prioritize industry certifications as a key standard of skill and workforce credibility.
- The majority of respondents emphasize collaboration across industry, education, and government as vital to solving the skills gap.
The report urges a shift from reactive to proactive workforce planning—building structured career pathways, improving training effectiveness, and fostering cross-sector partnerships to sustain growth in the fiber broadband ecosystem.
"Training must be treated as a strategic investment, not a time burden,” the authors note. “Formalized education, measurable progress tracking, and inter-industry collaboration are essential to ensure a resilient and future-ready workforce."
To read the full findings and recommendations, download the whitepaper here: 📄 NCTI-FBA Employer Workforce Preparedness Whitepaper (PDF)