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18 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2025 One World, One Industry Feature Column by Dr. John Mitchell, IPC PRESIDENT AND CEO When we think of everything that impacts the world economy, I can't help but think of electronics. ey impact everything. As you have heard me say over the past few years, elec- tronics is no longer a vertical, it's a horizon- tal. As practically every industry sector relies on natural resources like water and fossil fuels, they also rely on a manmade resource—elec- tronics. From agriculture to automotive and AI to aerospace, I can't think of any industry that does not rely heavily upon electronics as it maps out the future. While electronics progress at an ever- increasing pace to deliver the wonders of the future, there is a crucial aspect that has been part of the electronics ecosystem for decades: a skilled workforce. is is true now more than ever. Not only do technological innovations happen at an increasingly faster pace, but the need for them is everywhere. is is great, but the capabilities of those already in the indus- try and those looking to break into our indus- try need to keep up. No longer is it just a matter of training on the latest skills and capabilities (which is still a crit- ical and essential part), but we are now com- peting with many other industries for many of these very same skills. is is not a one-country Mapping the Future of the Electronics Workforce