Higher pay can make Navy shipyard jobs more competitive, but it is not yet proof that more ships will be built. Reports in 2026 describe substantial union wage increases at three major yards—NASSCO in San Diego, Bath Iron Works in Maine and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi. Those agreements address a real workforce constraint, while ship production also depends on training, working conditions, facilities and other capacity limits.
Why shipyard pay matters to Navy shipbuilding
Building complex warships requires skilled tradespeople, including welders and electricians. Shipyards compete with other employers for those workers, and the jobs can involve tight, uncomfortable spaces. The 2026 report says attrition is particularly high among early-career workers, making recruitment and retention central concerns for the yards.
John Phelan, identified in the report as Navy secretary until late April 2026, argued that wages are a major part of the problem. He said, “I think this is really an issue of wages, to be honest,” and contrasted shipyard work with jobs at convenience stores or Amazon. His view helps explain the case for raises; it is not a measurement showing that pay alone determines whether workers stay.
Pay is one part of the employment offer. The report also points to healthcare, retirement, flexibility, working conditions and leave, as well as practical issues such as commuting. At NASSCO, it describes a difficult commute for some workers. A stronger wage offer may help, but those other factors can shape whether a job is attractive and sustainable.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
What the reported agreements include
The following terms were reported in 2026 copies of a story attributed to Business Insider. Those copies reproduce the same reporting, rather than independently confirming one another, and signed agreement texts were not available in the cited accounts. Treat the figures as reported contract details, not independently verified contract language.
| Shipyard and location | Reported wage schedule | Other reported details |
|---|---|---|
| General Dynamics NASSCO, San Diego | 10% in year one, 5% in year two and 4% in year three. | Reported to cover more than 800 workers; retirement benefits, floating time off and worker protections also changed. |
| Bath Iron Works, Maine | 17% in the first year, followed by 4% in each of the next four years. | Reported to cover more than 4,500 workers and to improve retirement benefits. |
| Ingalls Shipbuilding, Mississippi | An immediate base-wage increase of at least 18%; total wage growth reported at 35% to 47% through 2031. | The reports describe the figures for union-represented workers but provide no comparable detail here on other provisions. |
The schedules are not directly comparable: they cover different periods and the reports do not present identical details about all contract provisions. The Ingalls figures, in particular, distinguish an immediate increase to base wages from total growth through 2031; the latter should not be read as a single one-time raise.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Raises address a bottleneck, not the whole production problem
The agreements can improve the competition for experienced workers if the reported terms make shipyard jobs more attractive. But a contract announcement cannot by itself show that fewer workers will leave, that hiring will accelerate, or that a yard will deliver ships sooner. The 2026 accounts do not establish those outcomes.
The scale of the experience challenge is illustrated by a comparison attributed to HII senior vice president of government relations Tom Moore: an HII electrical supervisor averaged more than 20 years of experience in the mid-1990s, compared with about four and a half years as of February 2025, described in the report as “February last year.” Moore called that loss “a lot of lost experience.” This is a comparison about the average experience of an electrical supervisor, not a workforce-wide statistic for every shipyard or a measure of what these new contracts have changed.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Other responses described in the report include targeted hiring, expanded training, transportation support, infrastructure investment and automation. These efforts address different constraints: wages affect the hiring offer, training develops skills, transportation can make a workplace more accessible, and facilities and automation can affect how work is organized. None is interchangeable with the others.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the Navy needed to get the industrial base moving and protect workers. IAM Eastern Territory Coordinator George Edwards said he believed the contract wins would help bring the industry back to where it needed to be. Those comments express the hopes of officials and labor leadership; they are not evidence that production has already increased.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
What to watch next
The meaningful test is whether yards can turn improved employment terms and other workforce measures into a more stable, capable labor force—and whether that capacity translates into better shipbuilding performance. Useful indicators would include reported hiring and retention, worker experience, and delivery performance over time. The accounts covering the agreements do not yet provide a measured before-and-after result for those indicators.
The broader policy challenge is not new: Navy shipbuilding ambitions depend in part on the capacity of the industrial base. A Congressional Research Service report provides historical context on the relationship between fleet plans and shipbuilding capacity, but it predates these 2026 labor agreements and cannot verify their terms or effects: Congressional Research Service, Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
