According to Aaron Starks, President of 47G, “the aerospace and defense industry accounts for about 20% of the state’s overall economy. It also provides about 300,000 jobs”. Utah’s robust aerospace and defense industry, a cornerstone of the state’s economy, is poised for further expansion. To address the industry’s growing talent needs, three key players—YouScience, Apogee Worx, and 47G—have joined forces to introduce a groundbreaking AI-powered career recruitment solution: Brightpath.
“one of the challenges in this industry, however, is getting more people to work in the field”.
– YouScience CEO and co-founder Edson Barton
Brightpath leverages YouScience’s innovative aptitude-based career guidance tools to identify students with the potential to excel in aerospace and defense. By combining this technology with the industry expertise of Apogee Worx and the community-building efforts of 47G, the partnership aims to create a robust talent pipeline.
“Women have the skills and the talents to truly do the highest level of work here in Utah and throughout the United States in aerospace, defense and a lot of other industries that they generally just don’t look at,” Barton said. “We’re able to identify that for them, connect the dots for them, and then point them in the right direction.”
Utah has the opportunity to unlock billions of dollars in economic potential and see more Utahns in “higher-paying careers with more sustainable wages”. By identifying young talent early on and guiding them towards fulfilling careers in aerospace and defense, this effort will ensure the industry’s continued growth and prosperity.
Brightpath’s innovative approach involves a series of engaging brain games and exercises designed to reveal individuals’ natural talents. As AI continues to advance, industries like aerospace are increasingly adopting similar assessments to help young people make informed career decisions.
About the Partners:
- YouScience: An American Fork company that empowers students to discover their strengths and passions.
- Apogee Worx: An Ogden-based aerospace company specializing in DoD aircraft systems integration and upgrades.
- 47G: A Utah organization dedicated to fostering talent, funding entrepreneurship, and fueling innovation in the aerospace and defense industry.
By collaborating on this initiative, these organizations are working to secure Utah’s position as a global leader in aerospace and defense, ensuring a sustainable future for the state’s economy and its people.