North America Builds Rare Earth Plants Faster Than It Trains the Engineers Needed to Run Them
September 29, 2026: North America is accelerating investment in rare earth mining, processing and magnet manufacturing, but a shortage of engineers and skilled workers could become a major constraint on the region’s efforts to build an alternative supply chain to China.
A recent report highlights a growing gap between the speed at which new rare earth facilities are being announced and the pace at which universities and industry are producing specialists capable of operating them. Engineering-degree output is estimated to be less than half the roughly 600 graduates a year that the US Department of Energy estimates may be needed.
Plants Are Coming, But Skilled Workers Are Scarce
Several major rare earth projects are moving ahead across the United States. USA Rare Earth, for example, broke ground this month on a $1.2 billion magnet plant in South Carolina, while MP Materials is developing a major magnet manufacturing campus in Texas. Other projects are targeting rare earth separation, heavy rare earth processing and recycling.
However, building facilities is only one part of developing a complete supply chain. Rare earth processing involves highly specialized chemical, metallurgical and engineering expertise, particularly for separating individual elements and converting them into metals, alloys and permanent magnets.
Declining Mining Enrolment Adds to the Challenge
The workforce issue extends beyond rare earths. Mining engineering enrolment in the US has declined substantially over the past decade. Data cited by the report shows enrolment peaked at 1,431 students in 2014, falling to 809 by 2022. At the same time, universities have not been filling all available seats.
Several institutions are now attempting to reverse the trend. Colorado School of Mines has reported significant growth in mining engineering enrolment, while the University of Texas at El Paso plans to launch a mining engineering programme with a target of producing around 100 graduates annually.
China Maintains a Major Processing Advantage
The workforce challenge comes as the US and its allies attempt to reduce dependence on China, which remains dominant in rare earth mining and especially processing. Reuters reported this month that even with rapidly expanding US production and processing capacity, the country is expected to remain dependent on imports for part of its rare earth requirements well into the 2030s.
Industry officials therefore argue that investment needs to cover not only mines and factories but also education, training and the development of specialised operational expertise.
The emerging challenge is clear: North America can finance and construct rare earth facilities, but creating the skilled workforce needed to operate those facilities at scale could take considerably longer.