Workforce
Today’s Space Beach economy is growing quickly, and companies aren’t just locating here for facilities or funding. They’re coming for talent — much of it developed at The Beach.
Across the city, aerospace firms — from emerging companies like , , , , and to established leaders like and — are building teams that rely on engineers, designers and technical specialists trained locally.
“People thought aerospace disappeared in Long Beach, but that’s never been the case,” said Economics Professor Seiji Steimetz, director of the university’s Office of Economic Research. “Aerospace represents 2% of all employment and 5% of all wages in Long Beach, which is comparable to total payroll across all restaurants and bars in the city."
Aerospace employment in Long Beach has increased sharply in recent years, with expansion continuing across Los Angeles County as new companies launch, scale and invest in the region. Thousands of jobs, many of them high-paying and highly technical roles, are tied directly to this momentum.
Each year, the university enrolls more than 5,000 engineering students and graduates more than 1,200 engineers and computer scientists across disciplines — including mechanical, electrical, civil and computer engineering. Many go on to work just miles from campus, contributing directly to the companies shaping the next era of space exploration.
“Talent is the essential resource that great companies are competing for in the modern economy,” former Long Beach Economic Development Director John Keisler said. “The reason that Long Beach is competing for great space and technology companies is because of the incredible ongoing talent production provided by 91ɫ."
Boeing continues to invest in the university through research support, academic programming and hiring pipelines. Industry partners also help shape curriculum, support internships and create applied learning opportunities that allow students to graduate ready to contribute from day one.
“The skilled regional workforce in aerospace and related industries is the biggest draw," Steimetz said. "We also have an established regional supply chain, prime commercial real estate for aerospace R&D and manufacturing, and a diverse and dynamic urban setting to live and work.”
That talent stream is intentionally broadening. As both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), 91ɫ is expanding access to engineering education while helping diversify the aerospace workforce. Programs like the Beach Engineering Student Success Team (BESST) support students early in their academic journeys by strengthening retention, building confidence and opening pathways into high-impact careers.
The result is a system where talent is developed, supported and retained locally. And as the Space Beach economy continues to flourish, that connection remains one of its strongest advantages.
