Building a quantum workforce

What you’ll learn:

• Quantum skills are in demand. Posts for jobs requiring quantum skills tripled from 2011 to 2024.
• Governments, companies, and academia are investing in a quantum workforce through educational initiatives and training courses.
• There’s an immediate need for skilled quantum professionals. There are currently more quantum-related job openings in the U.S. than can be filled, and international talent will be needed to fill those positions. 

The quantum field is maturing beyond its origins within prominent research labs that require highly specialized talent, according to the “Quantum Index Report 2025.” The report from the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy charts the rise of the technology, including new education and training programs aimed at nurturing an emerging multidisciplinary quantum workforce. 

“We expect to see a proliferation of folks who are not researchers in quantum technology gain employment in the broader quantum market,” said Jonathan Ruane, an MIT Sloan senior lecturer and research scientist, and editor-in-chief of the “Quantum Index Report.” The report was co-authored by researchers Elif Kiesow and Johannes Galatsanos from MIT IDE, and by Carl Dukatz, Edward Blomquist, and Prashant Shukla from Accenture.

“As we look to the future, we will see a much more diverse group of [non-quantum expert] employees who are working somewhat or entirely in the quantum ecosystem,” Ruane said. 

Why quantum workforce development matters now

Quantum computing relies on quantum bits, or qubits, to solve complex problems that are beyond the capabilities of classical computers.

Commercializing rapidly developing quantum technologies will require a qualified workforce. The specialty area requires a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical expertise, which creates challenges for employers looking to draft candidates with the right mix of skills and acumen. 

The report cites labor market data from Lightcast showing that U.S. job postings soliciting quantum skills tripled as a share of total job postings from 2011 to mid-2024. There are currently more quantum-related job openings in the United States than there are U.S. workers who can fill them.

Peak quantum job growth during that period occurred in 2020, but the data shows consistent upward movement in demand for quantum skills, according to the research. 

The researchers found demand for a variety of emerging technical roles related to quantum computing across academia, industry, national labs, and government, such as quantum algorithm developers, error-correction scientists, and data scientists. On the hardware side, there is a need for experts versed in the design and manufacture of quantum chips. Other roles require a range of skills that aren’t all quantum-specific, such as working in business development for quantum computing companies. 

How governments are investing in a quantum workforce

Countries are responding to the need for a quantum-savvy workforce with national initiatives. These include: 

• The National Quantum Initiative, a U.S. fund for quantum workforce development that has invested $2.5 billion in programs between 2019 and 2024.
• The U.S. Chips and Science Act, which included provisions for evaluating quantum workforce needs and initiatives.
• Initiatives in countries such as Canada and Australia that emphasize workforce expansion and talent development.
• A Digital Europe work program announced by the European Commission that will run from 2025 to 2027 and includes a Quantum Digital Skills Academy. 

“These initiatives recognize that developing quantum expertise should not only focus on technical training but that it also requires creating an entire ecosystem of quantum-savvy professionals who can bridge the gap between research and practice,” the researchers write.

Research institutes and universities are creating quantum hubs to teach these competencies, while some enterprises are standing up specialized training programs that create a bridge between business managers and leading quantum researchers. 

Other firms are taking advantage of quantum-as-a-service offerings, which allow wider access to quantum resources. QaaS encourages relatively low-cost experimentation while boosting skills development among non-quantum experts. 

What schools and universities are teaching about quantum

Working with quantum requires knowledge of advanced mathematics and physics concepts, which can be a barrier to educating and training a broader workforce. However, a growing number of global initiatives are promoting training at all levels, from K-12 through postgraduate and professional development. 

In the U.S., the National Q-12 Education Partnership, launched in 2020 as part of a national quantum strategy, is creating K-12-level educational resources and classroom tools to give students hands-on experience and spark interest in quantum technologies. There are similar efforts around the globe, including in China and the European Union.

Academic institutions are offering specialized degrees in quantum technologies at the undergraduate and graduate levels, often with an interdisciplinary focus that blends physics, computer science, and engineering. Germany is leading, with 12 master’s degree programs focused on quantum technologies, followed by the U.K. with 10 programs and the U.S. with nine, according to the report.

At MIT, Ruane and Will Oliver, a physics professor, launched the pioneering Global Business of Quantum Computing course four years ago. The course, which blends quantum technology and business, is a joint offering between MIT Sloan and the MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department and attracts students ranging from MBAs to quantum engineering PhDs. The course is designed to help students understand the fundamentals of the technology as well as the commercial potential of quantum across industries such as finance and logistics.  

“We’ve gone from having a dozen students our first year to 65 students last year,” Ruane said. “We bring the different communities together and take them from zero understanding of quantum to having a reasonable feel for how the technology can help business.” 

MIT also offers a range of executive education programs focused on quantum through its xPRO platform. Ruane and Oliver have collaborated with MIT colleagues, such as quantum experts Peter Shor and Isaac Chuang, to enable participants to explore topics such as quantum algorithms for cybersecurity and quantum computing strategy. These courses are available online to students around the world. 

What it will take to meet quantum workforce demands

Although numerous training initiatives are underway, there is an immediate need for skilled quantum professionals, and the report cautions that existing programs may be insufficient to meet future demands. International talent plays a critical role in filling the U.S. quantum pipeline: Approximately half of graduates from U.S. colleges and universities who are entering quantum-related fields are foreign students, according to a 2021 report. To address growing workforce needs, the U.S. must expand the domestic talent pipeline while continuing to attract and retain international expertise. 

Building a quantum workforce will require institutions to step up, not just public/private partnerships. “We need to be building multidisciplinary approaches to workforce development,” Ruane said. “Law schools should be doing their version, public policy schools their version — there’s opportunity for many collaborations.”

Read the “Quantum Index Report 2025”

This story is based on work co-authored by MIT researchers Jonathan Ruane, Elif Kiesow, and Johannes Galatsanos. Jonathan Ruane is a senior lecturer in global economics and management at MIT Sloan and a research scientist at the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy. His research interests are at the intersection of digital technology, entrepreneurship, advanced computing, and international markets. Elif Kiesow is a research affiliate at the MIT IDE who specializes in transatlantic and global governance strategies. Johannes Galatsanos is a researcher at the MIT IDE who focuses on delivering transformation with data, AI, quantum computing, and quantum sensing.