In the near future, robots may assist humans in a near-endless variety of applications — as teaching assistants in schools, in dangerous search and rescue efforts in disaster situations, and in ocean cleanup efforts, to name a few possibilities. In some areas, robots are already supporting humans in carrying out daily activities, such as robots assisting warehouse workers with retrieving and packaging products. While robotics research offers tremendous potential to improve our quality of life, a key challenge lies in developing a skilled workforce to drive these innovations.

CCC recently led the development of a CRA Quadrennial Paper on this topic, titled Imperative for Education the Next Generation Robotics Technology Workforce, to advocate for continued U.S. investment in robotics education and career training at all levels, from K-12 through professional development. The paper was written by Holly Yanco (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Odest Chadwicke Jenkins (University of Michigan), Weisong Shi (University of Delaware), William Regli (University of Maryland), and Monica Anderson Herzog (University of Alabama). Every four years, CRA publishes a series of Quadrennial Papers that examine key areas and issues within computing research that could address national priorities. Below, we outline many of the major recommendations from this Quadrennial Paper.

Robotics Education in K-12

Currently, robotics education for K-12 students is often limited to extracurricular programs, like FIRST or VEX, which are costly and not universally accessible. Early exposure to robotics is essential to inspire interest and ensure a future workforce in this field. Simple robots, like Arduino bots, offer an affordable entry point for students to learn about engineering and coding.

Recommendations:

• Integrate robotics education into the K-12 curriculum to give students hands-on experience.
• Invest in professional development for teachers to expand their knowledge of robotics concepts beyond programming.

National Training Centers for Robotics

Many U.S. manufacturing plants are struggling to find enough trained personnel. To revitalize manufacturing and ensure job creation, we need to establish training centers in more communities, equipping workers with the necessary robotics skills.

Recommendation:

• Create national training centers focused on robotics workforce development, leveraging existing institutions to expand capabilities.

Higher Education and Curriculum Sharing

The U.S. remains a global leader in robotics innovation through its colleges and universities, but the demand for skilled professionals is outpacing supply. Many institutions lack the resources to develop comprehensive robotics programs, so sharing curricular resources is essential.

Recommendation:

• Incentivize universities to share robotics curricula and training resources with other institutions to expand access to high-quality education.

Public-Private Partnerships

Collaboration between public and private sectors is key to creating effective robotics education pathways. By developing shared curriculum, apprenticeships, and national labs, these partnerships can prepare students for careers in robotics.

Recommendation:

• Establish public/private partnerships to create shared resources, internship programs, and accessible robotics labs.

Reskilling the Workforce

As AI and robotics transform the job market, over 50 percent of the global workforce may need reskilling by 2025, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). U.S. workers whose jobs are automated need programs to transition into new roles involving robotics and AI.

Recommendation:

• Develop national reskilling programs with financial incentives and flexible scheduling to help workers impacted by automation.

Investing in robotics education and workforce development is crucial for the U.S. to remain a leader in technological innovation. By integrating robotics into K-12 education, expanding higher education resources, and creating training centers, we can ensure a skilled workforce ready to lead in robotics and automation. The future of work is robotic — let’s make sure we’re ready.

To dive deeper into strategies for strengthening robotics workforce education, read the full CRA Quadrennial Paper, Imperative for Education the Next Generation Robotics Technology Workforce, on our website. If you’re passionate about robotics education, we encourage you to share this paper with educators, industry leaders, and policymakers to help drive the conversation forward.

CCC has released six Quadrennial Papers as part of the CRA’s 2024-2025 Quadrennial Papers Series. See the full list of CRA Quadrennial Papers here, and please share these papers with your colleagues!