SYSTEM SUCCESS: BUILDING VIRGINIA’S MARITIME WORKFORCE
HRMTS has been meeting demand since launching in 2024:
- 6,650+ workers enrolled in training programs
- 5,800+ graduates entered the workforce
- 87% overall completion rate across all trades
- Critical trades filled:
- Welding (85% completion)
- Electrical (91% completion)
- Outside Machinist (96% completion)
- Pipefitting & Shipfitting (93%+ completion)
Hampton Roads maritime employers needed 5,017 skilled workers as of September 2025 and HRMTS delivered with nearly 6,000 workers as of June 2025.
HRMTS is growing to meet future needs. With 38 training providers across Virginia and North Carolina and more on the way, by 2028, HRMTS will have expanded regional maritime training capacity from fewer than 5,000 to nearly 10,000 trainees annually, exceeding the projected industry demand, ensuring the nation’s maritime and defense base remains fully manned and mission-ready and supporting continued growth in this critical sector.
2025 IMPACT REPORT
HRMTS is Growing
HRMTS is expanding to keep pace with Navy and industry needs:
- 38 training providers in Virginia and North Carolina within 100 miles of Newport News Shipbuilding
- 2 new skilled trades training centers opening in 2026
- By 2028, HRTMS will graduate nearly 10,000 trainees annually, exceeding the projected industry demand.
Strengthening Hampton Roads and Beyond
Most graduates remain in Hampton Roads—a region of 1.8 million people and the largest concentration of Navy and ship repair facilities in the nation. By staying local, HRMTS graduates build long-term community strength while reinforcing America’s defense industrial base.
Our Partners.
For more information on the national effort visit our partners at BuildSubmarines.com
