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Nondestructive Testing Industry Research

Advancing NDT Workforce Readiness: Research Initiatives

The ASNT Foundation conducts workforce and industry research to empower the global nondestructive testing (NDT) community with actionable intelligence. These insights help employers, educators, policymakers, and NDT professionals better understand workforce trends, economic impact, and evolving industry needs. 

Economic Impact of NDT 

If you are looking for hard data to back up your strategic planning or budget requests this year, this is the resource you need.

The Economic Impact of NDT quantifies how the industry is changing and what those changes mean for employers, service providers, and decision-makers. Developed in partnership with Frost & Sullivan, the report examines the current U.S. NDT workforce of 89,800 professionals and projects market growth from $3.3 billion today to nearly $7 billion by 2035. 

Key insights include: 

  • Proven ROI: Detailed, sector-specific data on cost avoidance and failure prevention. 

  • Workforce Reality: Level IIs comprise 55% of the workforce and face the most significant shortages, driving increased demand for outsourced services. 

  • Future Growth Signals: Clear timelines for the adoption of software, AI, and digital workflows. 

This report equips leaders with verified economic data to justify budgets, support headcount decisions, and build stronger business cases for modernization.

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Collage of NDT workers in various settings, with text "Economic Impact of NDT" and "2025 Report," by ASNT Foundation.

Workforce Research Reports

Now available at a lower price!

Developed in collaboration with McKinley Advisors, the ASNT Foundation’s workforce research reports provide insights into NDT hiring trends and workforce perception.

Industry Compensation Report

$450 $270

  • Demographic trends: Insights into the composition of the NDT workforce across the US to support informed, strategic planning

  • Current salary insights: Detailed compensation data by job role, certification, tenure, company type, industry, education level, and supervisory responsibility

  • Perception of fairness: Practitioner perspectives on the fairness of compensation within the NDT profession

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Workforce Readiness Report

$350 $210

  • Assessing critical skills: Practitioner self-evaluation of expertise compared with input from hiring managers and recruiters

  • Practitioner perspectives: Workforce views on compensation and benefits, job satisfaction, training quality, advancement opportunities, and future outlook

  • Identifying hiring challenges: Current recruitment and hiring obstacles facing NDT employers

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*All profits from report sales are directed to the ASNT Foundation to fund research initiatives and advance the field of nondestructive testing.

Access Complimentary Executive Summaries

The ASNT Foundation’s workforce research reports deliver data that helps employers, practitioners, and educators stay competitive. Take a look at what’s in the reports by viewing the reports Executive Summaries. 

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Using ASNT Foundation Reports to Drive Workforce Success

The ASNT Foundation's research offers the most up-to-date insights into salary, benefits, and compensation trends tailored for the NDT industry. Empower your team with the latest market intelligence to boost satisfaction and elevate performance, keeping your organization at the forefront of the NDT industry.

For Employers and Practitioners: Plan Ahead to Stay Competitive

  • Inform Salary Decisions: Use these reports to benchmark your compensation packages against industry standards, ensuring your team remains competitive in a dynamic job market.

  • Analyze Market Trends: Gain a clear picture of the latest workforce demographic and compensation data insights to inform your organization's compensation strategies to stay competitive and attract top talent.

For Educators and Researchers: Access Exclusive Industry Insights

  • Gain Insights into National Data: These comprehensive reports provide exclusive access to nationwide salary data and workforce demographics, offering a foundation for research and curriculum development.

  • Expand Your Knowledge: Analyze emerging trends and identify skill gaps to better understand the shifting demands of the NDT industry, ensuring the next generation of NDT professionals is ready to lead.

Hear ASNT Foundation Executive Director Heather Cowles and ASNT Foundation Trustee Martin Graen discuss the reports at ASNT 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Future Plans

Based on the findings of these research reports, we are positioned to further deepen our understanding of key trends, challenges, and opportunities that will shape the future of work. As we move forward, our future research will focus on the following priority areas:

Bridging Skill Gaps in NDT

Research shows a notable gap between employers' and practitioners' understanding of essential NDT skills, revealing potential misalignments in training and expectations. Exploring this gap can inform workforce development by identifying where perceptions diverge, especially as emerging technologies reshape skill requirements. The study will also examine whether generational differences impact technological fluency, helping to align standards and training practices across the industry.

Enhancing Recruitment and Retention in NDT

With a shortage of skilled NDT professionals, attracting qualified candidates remains a significant challenge. This research aims to evaluate industry-wide recruitment practices, identify successful strategies for drawing talent, and assess whether there is high turnover in the field. By exploring these aspects and uncovering any primary factors contributing to turnover, the study seeks to support stronger workforce stability and development across the industry.

Have Suggestions or Feedback?

The ASNT Foundation strives to provide insightful and valuable research to advance NDT. If you have any feedback on existing reports or suggestions for future research, we encourage you to share your thoughts with us!

Email us

Share your feedback and suggestions with us at foundation@asnt.org.

Support Our Mission: Empower the NDT Workforce

Your contributions are crucial in continuing this essential research. By donating, you directly support the development of actionable strategies that will bridge skills gaps, enhance industry compensation practices, and ensure the sustainable growth of the NDT workforce.

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