The quantum talent gap is growing, and education systems aren’t ready

Quantum technology is often framed as futuristic or something to worry about later, but in education and workforce conversations today, that “later” is already here.

McKinsey & Company research published in 2022 suggests that the biggest barrier to quantum adoption is no longer technological progress but talent. Today, there is only one qualified quantum candidate for every three open roles. 

Delaying preparation to fill those roles carries real consequences. 

Organizations and countries that do not begin building quantum-ready pipelines risk falling into a purely reactive position, Joseph Reddix, a systems integration leader, said. They’ll be stuck adopting technologies shaped elsewhere rather than helping guide how they are developed and applied.

Reddix argues that a widening gap is emerging between organizations preparing for quantum technologies and those waiting until they’re forced to catch up. 

Quantum readiness isn’t about hiring physicists; it’s about building literacy so people understand where these tools fit, what problems they can solve and how to start planning before the pressure arrives. 

“When quantum and AI are combined as a learning tool, the vast global knowledge pool comes at the speed of light to an open-minded workforce,” Reddix said. “Competition will be stiff for the jobs in [the] near future.”

Here’s what else Reddix had to say about K–12 quantum pipelines, workforce preparation, and why organizations don’t need quantum experts to begin.

Where quantum fits in today’s AI takeover

Quantum does not replace classical computing or artificial intelligence. It adds to them.

Classical systems gather data. Artificial intelligence helps analyze that data, learning from it and improving over time. Quantum computing, Reddix said, takes this a step further by evaluating a vast number of possible answers at the same time. 

This combination matters most in sectors where complexity limits progress, including supply chains, transportation, cybersecurity, materials science and healthcare. 

In cyber, for example, quantum computers could one day defeat current encryption, making it essential to train a workforce capable of building and defending quantum‑resilient systems using emerging post‑quantum cryptographic standards.

The result is not just faster computing, but more informed and precise decision-making. Or in healthcare, Reddix said that the real breakthrough isn’t hardware size or speed, it’s data.

Quantum-enabled sensors could become highly miniaturized, capable of traveling through the body to capture precise information about pressure, anomalies or genetic indicators. The value, Reddix said, lies in the ability to collect richer data and analyze it far faster than traditional systems allow.

As Reddix put it, medicine advances when insight improves. Quantum-enhanced systems compress the time between observation and understanding, opening new possibilities for diagnostics, simulation, and drug discovery.

Quantum readiness starts at the high school level

Readiness conversations often focus on higher education and industry, but Reddix said that preparation starts much earlier.

Reddix pointed to the Homeland Security-sponsored cyber signature program at Fort Meade, which Joe helped design, as an example of what early workforce preparation can look like. The program introduces high school students to advanced cyber and sensing technologies in ways that are both rigorous and accessible.

What makes the program distinctive, Reddix said, is its proximity to real operational environments. Students gain early exposure to how cybersecurity and data systems function in places like US Cyber Command and the National Security Agency. This helps them begin to understand potential career pathways well before graduation.

Equally important is how the program reframes quantum as something students can interact with, not just study in the abstract. 

Quantum sensors, among the earliest practical quantum technologies, serve as an accessible entry point. MRI machines, for example, are quantum sensors that have been used for decades. They serve as a reminder that quantum principles are already embedded in systems people rely on every day.

For Reddix, this kind of early exposure is not about specialization. It is about awareness, confidence and readiness.

Plus, equity must be part of any quantum readiness strategy, Reddix added. Technologies built and deployed by narrow groups risk reinforcing existing gaps rather than closing them.

Community-based programs, public schools and accessible curricula play a critical role in democratizing exposure. Early, age-appropriate engagement helps students build curiosity and confidence before barriers form and ensures future systems reflect a broader range of perspectives.

What to do now

Quantum readiness does not require massive investment or deep technical expertise today. Instead, it begins with intentional choices in how education and workforce development programs prepare people to think about emerging technologies. 

Reddix sums this up into four practical steps educators, employers and training organizations can take now to build that foundation:

• Treat AI literacy as a basic skill, so students and workers understand how data and automated systems already influence the tools they use every day.
• Teach people how to think through complex problems step by step, weighing tradeoffs and improving outcomes across different factors.
• When possible, give hands-on examples using familiar situations to show how advanced technology works in the real world.
• Talk about technology in terms of what it helps people do and the decisions it supports, rather than how complicated it is.

The organizations that move first will not necessarily be the most technical. 

They will be the ones who clearly understand why these tools matter, where they create value and how to prepare people to work alongside them.