The Texas space economy faces a critical shortage of skilled labor that threatens the state's growth as a global hub for space exploration, according to aerospace entrepreneur and military veteran Joseph Kopser. During a recent interview, Kopser emphasized that while Texas hosts major companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Firefly Aerospace, the industry requires more than just rocket scientists. He noted the need for a workforce to build rockets, sustain life support systems, and construct spacecraft, highlighting that this involves physically running pipes, tubes, and chambers that hold highly pressurized liquid oxygen, which requires plumbers, electricians, and welders with great skill.
To address this workforce gap, Kopser co-founded the Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT) to connect 18-to-35-year-olds with vocational training and higher education. More information about this initiative is available at https://www.swift.space. Kopser stressed the importance of early exposure to these career paths, stating that people become what they can see. The initiative aims to ensure the Texas economic miracle is not stalled by a lack of skilled hands.
The discussion also addressed the exporting of talent from rural Texas. Kopser argued that fiber internet expansion and emerging autonomous supply chains offer a historic opportunity to reverse the exodus of young people from small towns. He noted that after 20 years of experimenting with exporting everything, which revealed the fragility of supply chains, the reshoring of manufacturing and the ability to work remotely now allow individuals to live the quality of life they want in rural Texas while accessing the modern economy.
Kopser highlighted dual-use technologies—innovations serving both national defense and commercial sectors—as key economic drivers. He pointed to Texas-based companies like Apptronik, which focuses on humanoid robotics, Saronic, which develops autonomous watercraft, and LoCal, which works on biochar energy, as examples of private innovation solving public problems. Details about these companies can be found at https://www.apptronik.com, https://www.saronictech.com, and https://www.local.energy.
Kopser, who recently launched a campaign for Texas House District 47, stated that the skills gap is widening and the decisions made today will shape Texas's economy for decades. He warned that hyper-partisan politics distract from the real work of creating jobs and giving kids a fair shot. He continues to advocate for people over politics through his organization, USTomorrow, which can be explored further at https://www.ustomorrow.org.
For HR vendors, this news underscores a significant shift in workforce development priorities within a high-growth industry. The emphasis on skilled trades and vocational training presents opportunities for vendors specializing in recruitment, training programs, and talent management solutions tailored to technical fields. The focus on rural talent retention and dual-use technologies suggests emerging markets for HR services that support geographic diversification and cross-sector skill transfer. The political advocacy for workforce issues indicates potential policy changes that could affect hiring practices and training investments, making it crucial for vendors to stay informed and adapt their offerings to meet these evolving demands in the Texas economy and beyond.
