The push to restore U.S. semiconductor manufacturing faces a labor crisis
Despite all the hype surrounding Biden’s infamous CHIPS Act, and the supposed on-shoring of US microprocessor and semiconductor manufacturing, it is still not clear where US will find the roughly 300,000 engineers and other skilled high-tech workers needed to staff planned new chip plants.
By Micheal Moats
Semiconductors power nearly every aspect of modern life – cars, smartphones, medical devices and even national defense systems. These tiny but essential components make the information age possible, whether they’re supporting lifesaving hospital equipment or facilitating the latest advances in artificial intelligence.
It’s easy to take them for granted, until something goes wrong. That’s exactly what happened when the Covid-19 pandemic exposed major weaknesses in the global semiconductor supply chain.
Suddenly, to name just one consequence, new vehicles couldn’t be finished because chips produced abroad weren’t being delivered. The semiconductor supply crunch disrupted entire industries and cost hundreds of billions of dollars.
The crisis underscored a hard reality: The US depends heavily on foreign countries – including China, a geopolitical rival – to manufacture semiconductors. This isn’t just an economic concern; it’s widely recognized as a national security risk.
That’s why the US government has taken steps to invest in semiconductor production through initiatives such as the CHIPS and Science Act, which aims to revitalize American manufacturing and was passed with bipartisan support in 2022.
While President Donald Trump has criticized the CHIPS and Science Act recently, both he and his predecessor, Joe Biden, have touted their efforts to expand domestic chip manufacturing in recent years.
Yet, even with bipartisan support for new chip plants, a major challenge remains: Who will operate them?
The push to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the US faces a significant hurdle: a shortage of skilled workers.
The semiconductor industry is expected to need 300,000 engineers by 2030 as new plants are built. Without a well-trained workforce, these efforts will fall short, and the US will remain dependent on foreign suppliers.
This isn’t just a problem for the tech sector – it affects every industry that relies on semiconductors, from auto manufacturing to defense contractors. Virtually every military communication, monitoring and advanced weapon system relies on microchips.
It’s not sustainable or safe for the US to rely on foreign nations – especially adversaries – for the technology that powers its military.
For the US to secure supply chains and maintain technological leadership, I believe it would be wise to invest in education and workforce development alongside manufacturing expansion.
Next generation semiconductor engineers
Filling this labor gap will require a nationwide effort to train engineers and technicians in semiconductor research, design and fabrication. Engineering programs across the country are taking up this challenge by introducing specialized curricula that combine hands-on training with industry-focused coursework.
Future semiconductor workers will need expertise in chip design and microelectronics, materials science and process engineering, and advanced manufacturing and clean room operations…
Continue this analysis at The Conversation
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Michael Moats is professor of metallurgical engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
Header featured image (edited) credit: (Image Source: The Conversation). Emphasis added by (TLB)
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