Housing, Talent, and the Projects Shaping What’s Next

Why This Matters

Delaware is at a turning point. Employers across industries can’t find enough workers, housing is in short supply and the state faces fierce competition from its regional neighbors for talent and investment. At the same time, Wilmington is reinventing its downtown, Sussex County is experiencing unprecedented population growth and mega-projects like a 6M sq. ft. data center campus and a $635M port expansion could reshape the state’s economy. These parallel stories reveal both opportunities and risks for the First State. How Delaware navigates its workforce shortages, housing constraints, infrastructure limits, and high-stakes real estate projects will determine its economic identity for decades to come.