Tag: technology deep dive

Study: San Diego’s $47B Manufacturing sector supports 121K jobs, a third of which are in small businesses

By EDC Research Bureau,

This week, San Diego Regional EDC released “Manufacturing in San Diego: Local Impact, Global Reach,” which quantifies the economic impact of the region’s Manufacturing sector and explores the firms, innovation clusters, and talent building and creating the goods and technologies of the future.

While federal priorities shift to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains, prioritizing the resilience and competitiveness of San Diego’s Manufacturing sector is key. In fact, over the last five years local manufacturing firm growth has outpaced that of California and the U.S. at large. The Manufacturing sector not only creates jobs and fosters innovation across key industries in our binational region, but it ensures a stable supply of essential goods and technologies.

“As is always our mission, this report aims to provide actionable insight for regional decision makers with data and guidance needed to preserve and enhance San Diego’s competitiveness in the global economy. Manufacturing is core to San Diego’s innovation identity, offering onramps to quality jobs, and will need coordinated support to sustain growth,” said Eduardo Velasquez, Sr. Director of Research & Economic Development at San Diego Regional EDC, the report’s author.

Released as part of National Manufacturing Month, the interactive web report includes a deep dive on the $47 billion Manufacturing sector, and includes company profiles, a metro-by-metro comparison, and a set of recommendations for better supporting manufacturers in a costly and highly regulated environment.

KEY report FINDINGS

  • San Diego’s Manufacturing sector is a significant part of the regional economy. There are 121,027 jobs supported by 4,429 establishments tied to the Manufacturing sector. This means that manufacturing employment accounts for nearly one in 10 private sector jobs across the region. Altogether, this amounts to a $47 billion regional economic impact annually.
  • Manufacturing jobs are high-paying and increasingly accessible. Average annual wages are more than $103,000, which is 31 percent higher than the region’s average. The proportion of manufacturing jobs not requiring higher education continues to rise, opening opportunities to a wider range of candidates.
  • Growth in the sector is driven by small businesses. More than one-third of the manufacturing workforce is employed by a small business, with fewer than 100 employees. Nearly nine in 10 manufacturers employ fewer than 50 employees.
  • Manufacturing is tied to innovation. San Diego manufacturing encompasses industry verticals from Consumer Goods and Craft Beer to Life Sciences, Technology, and Aerospace. Innovation-related industries make up 46 percent of all manufacturing employment in the region.
  • High cost of living and operational challenges hinder the sector’s growth. Success stems from companies finding unique pathways to grow and expand. However, a high cost of living, limited space, and higher operational costs in San Diego pose challenges for attracting and retaining manufacturers and their workers.

Manufacturing in San Diego is made up of world-class brands and consumer goods like Taylor Guitars, Dr. Bronner’s soaps, and Stone Brewing’s IPAs. Yet San Diego’s Manufacturing sector also has a strong tie to the region’s innovation ecosystem—producing everything from satellite navigation equipment to genome sequencers. In fact, San Diego’s innovation manufacturing employment concentration is more than double the national average.

“San Diego brings something special beyond biotech innovation—it’s the collaborative spirit and vibrant energy here that truly enhance what we create,” said David Arida, COO at Biolinq, a San Diego startup focused on developing biowearable sensor devices.

However, the region’s high cost of living, expensive and hard-to-come-by real estate, and higher operational costs pose challenges for attracting and retaining talent and manufactures alike. Even more, San Diego ranks low in ease of doing business compared to competitor regions, which can impact company decisions on where to locate or expand operations.

“As EDC’s report demonstrates, it is critical that our region commits to cultivating talent and catalyzing innovation, as well as investing in critical infrastructure and easy-to-navigate policy frameworks to better support local manufacturers. In Carlsbad, we are dedicated to strengthening our manufacturing community by fostering collaboration and ensuring businesses have the resources needed to succeed. From streamlining processes to providing access to new opportunities, we are committed to making Carlsbad a hub for innovation and sustainable growth in manufacturing,” said City of Carlsbad Mayor Keith Blackburn.

The report was sponsored by the City of Carlsbad, CMTC, San Diego County Water Authority, and Walmart, and was unveiled October 30 at an industry event together with Carlsbad Mayor Keith Blackburn and San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo.

SEE THE FULL REPORT

LEARN MORE ABOUT MANUFACTURING IN SAN DIEGO

Plus, explore our Spotlight on Manufacturing series

About EDC

San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is an independently-funded economic development organization that mobilizes business, government, and civic leaders around an inclusive economic development strategy in order to connect data to decision making, maximize regional prosperity, enhance global competitiveness, and position San Diego effectively for investment and talent.

Manufacturing in San Diego: More vital than you think

By Lindsey Silvia and Emily Irion,

This blog post is a part of a larger series in celebration of Manufacturing Month, sharing key trends from our report on San Diego’s Manufacturing sector.

READ THE full REPORT

San Diego is known for its sunny coastlines, vibrant tourism, and thriving biotech industry, but its Manufacturing sector is equally as diverse and dynamic. Manufacturing in the region is done using the most cutting-edge technology as well as traditional craftsmanship. This diversity reflects the region’s ability to adapt and evolve while creating a robust economic landscape with opportunities across a variety of industries.

The impact of the Manufacturing sector on San Diego’s economy may go unnoticed, but it’s a crucial contributor to the region, generating more than $47 billion annually when accounting for direct, indirect, and induced effects on the economy.

By the Numbers

 

With significant job concentration in Life Sciences, Technology, and Aerospace and Navigation technologies industries, manufacturing in San Diego is both sophisticated and advanced.

Why San Diego stands out

Three key factors set San Diego apart as a Manufacturing hub: talent, innovation, and proximity to key customers. See how local companies are taking advantage of all three below:

    1. Staying close to key customer base

      Stone Brewing is a unique story and part of a larger narrative of the region’s diverse Manufacturing landscape. A homegrown brewery, Stone Brewing was founded in San Diego County in 1996, playing a key role in establishing the region as a thriving craft beer hub. Its strategic location keeps it close to target customers and suppliers, while the vibrant brewing community attracts top talent. Now the largest craft brewery in California and the ninth-largest overall in the U.S., Stone continues to expand, reinforcing its presence in San Diego. Acquired by Japanese brewery Sapporo in 2022, Stone invested $20 million to expand its Escondido brewery. Now branded Sapporo-Stone Brewing, the brewer makes Sapporo’s beers in addition to its own, doubling output and expanding the Japanese brewery’s reach into the U.S. market. Its San Diego presence remains a strategic asset, benefiting from the region’s collaborative brewing community and loyal customer base.

    1. A hub for cutting-edge ideas

      San Diego consistently ranks in the top three Life Sciences markets in the U.S., often recognized as a hub for research and development (R&D). However, the region’s strength in manufacturing frequently goes overlooked.

      Founded in San Diego in 2017 by former Illumina leadership, Element Biosciences develops genetic analysis tools and human genome sequencing, reflecting the region’s cutting-edge genomics work. One of the key advantages to San Diego is the robust biotech ecosystem, specifically within Genomics, which fosters continuous innovation and cutting-edge ideas, creating an environment where a startup like Element can thrive. Element’s rapid growth in under seven years is partly due to the decision to continue manufacturing key components in San Diego, driven by proximity to critical R&D activities, access to top talent and reliable industry partners, and collaboration with local universities and industry giants. Like many Life Sciences companies in the region, Element stands out as both an R&D innovator and precision manufacturer, solidifying its role in San Diego’s innovation Manufacturing landscape.

    1. Driving San Diego’s next innovation cluster

      When people think of Manufacturing, they often picture large-scale assembly lines. In San Diego, smaller-scale Manufacturing with a greater emphasis on quality and precision is the region’s sweet spot.

      Aptera launched in 2019 out of co-CEO Steve Fambro’s garage. The solar electric vehicle company embodies the region’s burgeoning Cleantech hub, utilizing a micro-factory model. Aptera opts for smaller-scale operations and strategically selects markets close to its customer base. California’s environmental goals made the state an ideal fit for its innovative product. San Diego was also a natural choice for its founders, who had prior experience launching companies in the region.

      Beyond being a key market for customers, San Diego’s innovation ecosystem continues to provide access to top-tier talent for high-tech, cutting-edge roles. It also offers strategic supply chain advantages due to proximity to Los Angeles and, more importantly, to Tijuana, Mexico.

Supporting the ecosystem

Manufacturing in San Diego is a vital sector that supports more than 100,000 jobs, contributes significantly to local GDP, and fosters a thriving environment for innovation and growth. By focusing on nurturing talent, fueling innovation, and leveraging its strategic location, San Diego is well-positioned to sustain and grow its manufacturing expertise.

Local industry resources:

To read our full analytical manufacturing report click here.

Study: San Diego’s cyber talent grows by 10% across 1K firms

By EDC Research Bureau,

EDC, CCOE study quantifies impact of region’s cybersecurity cluster

Together with the Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE), EDC released “Cybersecurity is Everyone’s Business: San Diego’s Cyber Cluster.” The fifth update since 2014, the report quantifies the economic impact of the region’s cybersecurity cluster and explores the firms, technology, and talent working to help thwart cyber risk across San Diego and beyond.

As cyberattacks and ransomware threats extend beyond technology and begin to impact even our built environment, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated. Not only are the consequences costly—reaching an average of $9.44 million in the U.S. per IBM—but they have profound impacts on human health and safety.

“San Diego is leading the charge with more than 1,000 cyber firms, top-ranked education and research institutes, and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR). This collaborative ‘Ecosystem in Action,’ as highlighted by the White House, is developing new technologies, solutions, and diverse cyber talent to create a more secure digital community for all,” said Lisa Easterly, President & CEO, CCOE—commissioning organization of the report.

Marking the 10-year anniversary of CCOE, the biennial report includes a deep dive into San Diego’s $4 billion cyber cluster, a metro-by-metro comparison, a roster of local resources and assets, and business sentiments of local firms.

KEY report FINDINGS

  • Cybersecurity is everyone’s business. With increasing cyber threats to physical infrastructure, the security of data and communication is of critical importance, leading to a sharp rise in global demand for cybersecurity talent across industries. In San Diego, 59 percent of private sector cybersecurity jobs are in industries outside of technology, such as manufacturing, architecture, and engineering.
  • San Diego’s cybersecurity cluster is expanding its footprint and impact on the regional economy. There are 13,383 jobs and 1,016 establishments tied to the cybersecurity cluster in San Diego, up eight percent and 17 percent respectively in the last two years. Altogether, this amounts to a $4 billion regional economic impact.
  • Local cybersecurity firms remain deeply linked to the Federal government, including the Department of Defense. A majority (65 percent) of San Diego cyber firms work directly or indirectly with the government. Nearly one-fifth indicate government-related work as their primary focus, explaining why 23 percent of local cybersecurity firms are in the defense and aerospace industry.
  • Fast growth and resilience define San Diego’s cybersecurity talent. The region’s talent pool has grown by nearly 10 percent since 2018, five times faster than all other occupations combined. The cybersecurity talent base experienced significantly smaller job losses during the pandemic and recovered both more strongly and more quickly than other occupations. 
  • Demand for cyber talent far exceeds local supply. Three out of four cybersecurity firms in San Diego report having difficulty finding entry- to mid-level as well as experienced applicants. Increasing compensation and diversity can help address San Diego’s talent shortage.

Cyber is an important and rapidly growing piece of the San Diego regional economy. The cluster supports 26,000 local jobs, most concentrated at NAVWAR, the preeminent provider of information warfare capabilities for the U.S. Navy. In all, the economic impact of San Diego’s cyber cluster is about the same as 24 Comic-Cons.

“Firms in every industry face cybersecurity risks. This is driving up the demand for cybersecurity talent and solutions. To keep pace and remain competitive, San Diego must leverage its unique assets, such as the military, as well as its incredibly diverse pool of talent,” said Eduardo Velasquez, Senior Director of Research and Economic Development, EDC.

“We have a national shortage of cyber workers—to the tune of 663,000 in the U.S. per Cyberseek. Opening the aperture with accessible and skills-based training helps seed and diversify the talent pipeline, which is critical to advancing our country’s homeland security,” said Joseph Oregon, Chief of Cybersecurity, Region 9, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

More competitive compensation, increased diversity in recruitment, and thoughtful consideration of degree requirements are all strategies that can help San Diego lead in cybersecurity innovation across the region and globe.

In partnership with CCOE, the report was sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton, CyberCatch, ESET, Haiku, RiskRecon, and San Diego State University, and was unveiled today at an industry event hosted at Qualcomm.

SEE THE FULL REPORT HERE

LEARN more about cyber IN SAN DIEGO

About Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE)
CCOE is a San Diego-based nonprofit that mobilizes industry, academia, and government to grow the regional cyber economy and create a more secure digital community for all. sdccoe.org

Study: Artificial Intelligence has potential to supercharge San Diego Smart Cities efforts

By EDC Research Bureau,

EDC study assesses the economic impact of AI in Smart Cities

Today alongside underwriter Booz Allen Hamilton, San Diego Regional EDC released the fifth study in a series on the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML) within San Diego County’s key economic clusters. “Designing the Future: Artificial Intelligence for Smart, Thriving Cities” explore the history and evolution of Smart Cities efforts around the world, and investigate whether these technologies can enable cities to be both more efficient and more inclusive.

By 2050, it is projected that more than two-thirds of the global population will reside in an urban area. This massive and rapid urbanization presents new challenges for cities around the world—San Diego included. Between 2010–2020, San Diego’s population increased 8.35 percent from 3 million to 3.3 million residents. As the region has grown, affordability, sustainability, and mobility have become major priorities for sustaining economic competitiveness and inclusion. AI-ML technology presents new opportunities, and new responsibility, for urban areas to unlock the potential of innovation to cultivate smart, thriving cities.

Underwritten by Booz Allen Hamilton, the web-based study—smartcities.sandiegoAI.org—includes San Diego case studies on use of AI-ML in Smart Cities, a ‘tour’ of Smart Cities efforts around the globe, and makes the business case for prioritizing economic inclusion in Smart Cities efforts, among other assessments.

“EDC’s AI series underscored that AI-ML adoption is creating new job opportunities, and the demand for these skills far outpaces the supply,” said Teddy Martinez, Senior Research Manager, EDC. “As we wrap with a focus on Smart Cities, it is clear that if done right, AI-ML also has the potential to advance economic inclusion and improve quality of life for more San Diegans.”

KEY FINDINGS

  • AI-ML integration with Smart Cities efforts is still in the early stages. Smart Cities initiatives have evolved around the world from connected sensors and devices to promoting sustainability, efficiency, and mobility. Yet, local governments and businesses in San Diego have not yet fully integrated AI-ML into Smart Cities efforts.
  • Demand for AI-ML talent is more than double the supply in San Diego. The region produced fewer than 3,000 AI-ML-related graduates in 2021, meanwhile, more than 7,800 local unique job postings required AI-ML skills in 2022.
  • San Diego has above average concentrations in key industries that drive Smart Cities efforts, providing 50,454 jobs and an economic impact of $21.2 billion. Seven industries within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector also have the strongest appetite for AI-ML skills, responsible for one-in-four unique job postings in 2022.
  • Moving from smart to thriving is the next chapter for technologically advanced cities. Smart Cities technologies have contributed to efficiencies, but do not yet drive economic growth. With greater intention, these technologies can improve affordability and quality of life, as well as support job growth and business expansion.

San Diego’s growing innovation economy has gotten rightful praise as a “World’s Smart City” by National Geographic, and recently as a “World Design Capital” alongside Tijuana. Home to established companies Booz Allen Hamilton and Qualcomm, or scaling startups like Kneron and Measurabl, the region is largely defying the ‘tech correction’ and experiencing massive growth to drive AI-ML innovation locally and beyond.

“Measurabl uses AI-ML to revolutionize how businesses approach energy management. By providing real-time insights about energy use and identifying areas of inefficiency, we empower our clients to make data-driven decisions that cut costs and reduce environmental impact—ensuring company ESG (environment, social, governance) goals are measurable, manageable, and auditable,” said Frank Pressel, Data Science and Data Engineering Manager, Measurabl, founded in San Diego.

“As a proud part of San Diego’s tech ecosystem, Booz Allen—with 1,300 employees in the region—is hiring in droves for roles in software development, AI-ML, data engineering, and computer engineering. Together with industry, research, and academia, San Diego has the ingredients to lead in a Smart Cities future,” said Joe Rohner, Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton and a leader in the firm’s AI practice. “With the right integration and investments in AI-ML, our region can meet ambitious goals in sustainability, transportation, and inclusion. Developing the talent, and ensuring community buy-in, are critical to that success.”

The study series is underwritten by Booz Allen Hamilton and produced by EDC. Learn more about EDC’s research here.

read the report at smartcities.sandiegoAI.org

see the full ai series here

Study release: North County’s manufacturing industry poised for recovery, growth

By EDC Research Bureau,

A marketing initiative of EDC and the five cities along the 78 Corridor, Innovate78 serves to spotlight the businesses and innovators that make our region competitive.

Today, Innovate78 released a new report, The Future of Manufacturing in North County, which finds the industry will continue to prove its resiliency and positive economic impact in the region—even amid trends in automation, globalization and COVID-19 ramifications. According to the study, manufacturing accounts for $18 billion annually (or seven percent) of the area’s economy, and while many of the 813 local manufacturing firms were impacted by coronavirus, 58 percent of survey respondents are looking to increase their space.  

The study analyzes trends in employment, which is concentrated in high-value goods like computer and electronic product manufacturing. This sub-industry specifically accounts for nearly one-third of all manufacturing jobs in North County, with 12,746 employees of the total 40,151 jobs reported in the study. This number is expected to grow nearly six percent in the next five years—continuing to position manufacturing as a key driver of North County’s economy.  

Flux Power, a company represented in the study that manufactures advanced lithium-ion battery for industrial and commercial equipment, increased both their staff and revenue in 2020 amid the pandemic. With more than 100 employees, the Vista-based company is now looking to increase both its production and nonproduction space within the region.  

“The need to be efficient, safe and environmentally-conscious is high, especially now, as businesses plan for post-COVID-19 recovery,” said Chuck Scheiwe, chief financial officer of Flux Power. “Manufacturing products that empower others to improve their day-to-day efficiencies will be critical in our industry and region’s future growth, and we’re proud to be part of it.”  

The study reports that during COVID-19, North County manufacturing companies were undoubtedly impacted by the pandemic, with 43 percent of respondents reporting a loss of revenue in 2020. Looking at net growth, however, there was a reported one percent increase in manufacturing jobs, with 186 manufacturing jobs lost and 956 gained as noted by respondents. Most job losses were in medical manufacturing, while most job gains were in machinery manufacturing.  

One company that reported job gains is Quik-Pak, an Escondido based computer and electronic manufacturing company. In addition to anticipating upscaling facilities in the future, during COVID-19 Quik-Pak hired staff and reported increased revenue.  

“The strength of the manufacturing industry in North County San Diego is one of the reasons we wanted to expand here,” said Rosie Medina, vice president sales and marketing of Quik-Pak. “The talent pool is rich, and there is space to grow. We appreciate that not every region has both of these critical components that are needed for our industry to thrive.”    

Automation, globalization and COVID-19 are obvious pressures affecting North County’s manufacturing industry. However, as Quik-Pak and Flux Power note, the need for innovation and talent remain strong. There are 9,804 manufacturing jobs with a higher-than-average risk of automation—that’s nearly 24 percent of all North County manufacturing jobs. Investment in upskilling and re-training will be needed to help move these workers into other quality jobs over time.  

“From craft beer to surfboards, to life-changing medical devices and technology services, manufacturing has long been a pillar of the region’s economy, with impacts spanning beyond our community,” said Jordan Latchford, research manager of San Diego Regional EDC, the study author and managing entity of Innovate78. “This study confirms the manufacturing industry in North County is poised for a strong recovery, and will remain a significant economic driver for the San Diego region.”  

READ THE FULL REPORT

LEARN MORE ABOUT SAN DIEGO’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

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Study: Qualcomm’s Contribution to San Diego’s Economy

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Summary

San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation released a study—Qualcomm’s Contribution to San Diego’s Economy, showcasing how the company’s investment in the community has impacted the industry, economy and region as a whole. Since its humble beginning in 1985, Qualcomm has been at the forefront of innovation, entrepreneurship and research and development (R&D.) It settled with a home base in San Diego, providing a significant economic impact and tremendous contributions to our region since its founding.

Qualcomm is not only a technology industry leader in our region; it also engages the marketing, accounting, legal services, consulting, environmental and engineering industries in San Diego, in-turn creating jobs and opportunities along every step of the company’s tech journey. Just in 2018, Qualcomm had an economic impact of approximately $4 billion in the San Diego economy. To put that into perspective, it’s the equivalent of 41 Breeder’s Cup World Championships, 27 San Diego Comic-Cons and 3.6 San Diego Convention Centers. This research was sponsored by Qualcomm, who provided employee data for EDC’s impact analysis.

READ THE FULL REPORT

Cybersecurity in the San Diego region

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Summary

San Diego has emerged as a leader for the development of cybersecurity technology and the delivery of cyber-related services. The region’s healthy ecosystem, including its strong military presence, world-class academic institutions, incubators and strong partnerships between industry associations and governments, has positioned San Diego as a hub for cyber operations. Today, there are more than 150 firms in the San Diego region focused exclusively on cyber. With incidences of cyber attacks on the rise worldwide, the industry’s innovative companies are equipped to meet the global market’s increasing demands for new products and technologies. This study was produced in collaboration with the Cyber Center of Excellence.

READ THE FULL REPORT

Study: Mapping San Diego’s Defense Ecosystem

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Summary

For more than a century, San Diego’s defense cluster has been at the heart of the regional economy. The breadth and depth of defense activity stretches far beyond military bases and naval ships; from telecomm to robotics, aerospace to cybersecurity, San Diego’s defense cluster is the driving force behind the region’s innovation economy. In absence of the defense cluster, it is doubtful San Diego would be the global innovation hub it is today. In 2017, defense-related spending contributed $25.2 billion to the regional economy. More than $9 billion came from defense contracts procured by private firms, making San Diego the second largest recipient of defense procurement dollars nationwide. Today, there are more than 5,600 defense contractors connected to the region’s defense cluster. The overwhelming majority are small businesses in the manufacturing and professional, scientific, and technical service sectors which, together, account for 81 percent of all defense-specific contractor employment.

As a region heavily reliant upon defense spending, uncertainty surrounding the federal defense budget poses a potential threat to the region’s essential network of defense contractors and, more broadly, the regional economy. In order to better understand and support the local defense cluster, a survey of defense contractors in the region was conducted to gauge perceptions of the business climate, with the ultimate goal of informing the development of specific programs designed to enhance the resiliency of local companies.

Read the full report