The Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) has released a landmark report, “Advancing Together: A Unified Strategy for Scaling Midwest Quantum Talent,” providing a roadmap for the Illinois-Wisconsin-Indiana region to meet a projected demand of up to 191,000 quantum jobs by 2035. Backed by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the strategy aims to unify the “Quantum Prairie”—a region already home to four federally funded quantum research centers and a workforce that produces over 16,000 quantum-relevant graduates annually. The report highlights that more than 70% of these future roles will not require graduate degrees, making accessibility and vocational training central to the region’s economic sustainability.
The action plan identifies Awareness and Preparation as foundational pillars for building the pipeline. Recommendations include expanding K–12 quantum learning, launching a Quantum Teaching Center of Excellence to train educators, and establishing a shared-access framework for experimental equipment. This framework would allow students from smaller liberal arts colleges and community colleges to gain hands-on experience with specialized quantum hardware, such as dilution refrigerators and cryostats, that are typically concentrated at large research universities. By lowering these barriers, the CQE seeks to ensure that learners in both rural and urban areas can participate in the emerging economy.
To bridge the gap between education and employment, the report emphasizes Mobility and Employer Leadership. Key initiatives include formalizing transfer pathways between community colleges and major research institutions, as well as launching a collaborative employer network to align curriculum with industry-specific skill demands. The CQE calls for a “Talent Pipeline Management” approach to reduce duplicative hiring efforts and create quantum-specific apprenticeship models. According to Emily Easton, CQE’s director of education and workforce development, these apprenticeships will be vital for roles like quantum technicians and manufacturing specialists, who will build and maintain the physical infrastructure of quantum networks.
The final strategic priority is Coordination, which involves establishing shared data systems and regional partnerships to track workforce outcomes across state lines. The strategy leverages existing assets like the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) and the Bloch Quantum Tech Hub to position the Midwest as a domestic leader in the quantum supply chain. David Awschalom, director of the CQE, noted that the objective is to move beyond isolated programs toward a “discovery-to-deployment” ecosystem. By integrating universities, national laboratories like Argonne and Fermilab, and private industry, the region aims to create a FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) talent pool for the nation.
You can read or download the full “Advancing Together” report here, access the official CQE press release here, and view further data on regional job projections here.
May 2, 2026
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