This feature issue highlights a topic not traditionally covered in Applied Optics, education and training of the photonics and optics workforce. There is a shortage of qualified labor due to an aging workforce, changing skills needs, and growing skills gaps across many manufacturing industries. This shortage will be more acute for advanced manufacturing industries such as photonics and optics. One of the key challenges in resolving this shortage is the training and hiring of skilled workers.

The characteristics of photonics and optics technologies impact the skills that are needed. In order to train workers well, training programs need to understand the technology today and where it is headed. The Applied Optics community is best positioned to inform these changes and can play a critical role in improving the photonics and optics training ecosystem.

As the photonics and optics industry grows and skills needs change, education and training will need to be updated to keep pace with the demand for workers. This feature issue consists of five articles highlighting specific photonics and optics workforce challenges, opportunities for industry support, and state-of-the-art-training methods.

Monacelli [1] discusses several opportunities for greater industry involvement in the creation of a pipeline from academia to industry such as partnerships with academic programs. This would enable industry to take an active role in shaping the future workforce to develop a highly skilled applicant pool with modern in-demand skills.

To begin to understand current skills gaps and emerging skill needs, Moore et al. [2] characterize in-demand for photonics and optics middle-skilled workers, workers with less than a Bachelor’s degree but greater than a high school diploma. This study estimates 42,000 new technical middle-skilled workers will be needed by 2030 to support the growth of the photonics and optics industry. This translates to 100 additional technician programs needed nationwide. Both studies [1,2] emphasize partnerships with key training stakeholders, including industry members, are needed to cultivate a skilled workforce capable of evolving with technological advancements.

In order to address existing skills gaps, Neim et al. [3] have developed Hands-On Photonic Education (HOPE) Kits with AIM Photonics for instructors to train students on photonic integrated circuit (PIC) testing and characterization. The HOPE Kit moves away from passive learning to active engagement of students and can be applied across education levels including high schools, community colleges, four-year colleges, and company employees. Upadhyay et al. [4] also demonstrate the effectiveness of hands-on training with a mixed-methods training combining virtual reality simulations with lectures. Their fiber preform manufacturing browser-based VR simulation provides a solution for training workers for fiber optic cable manufacturing. To support undergraduate and graduate training of in-demand skills for photonic integrated circuit design engineers, Verlage et al. [5] developed photonics web simulations. 3D vector field visualizations enabled hands-on training and an improved understanding of electromagnetic waves at the micro scale. Each of these state-of-the-art training solutions exemplifies innovative hands-on training approaches for the incoming workforce while also presenting opportunities for upskilling the existing workforce. With support from key stakeholders, these training solutions can help bridge the skills gap and provide the training needed to advance and grow the photonics and optics industry.

This journal’s community is on the cutting edge of photonics and optics technology. In order to train workers well, training programs must understand how the technology is evolving and therefore how skills are evolving. The Applied Optics community is best positioned to develop partnerships and inform these technology changes and can play a critical role in shaping workforce training. The opportunity to share our work in Applied Optics is sincerely appreciated, and we would like to thank the editorial board for making it possible to highlight the workforce challenges and training solutions. We also are grateful to the guest editors, editorial staff, and reviewers for their invaluable contributions.