Rebuilding Our Semiconductor Workforce:
Making the Most of the CHIPS Act
The United States is launching into a new era of resurgent semiconductor manufacturing.
New research from Lightcast explores the details of this emerging demand and shows how to take advantage of this crucial moment
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and new technologies are adopted, semiconductors have become indispensable in day-to-day life, and ensuring a robust and reliable supply has never been more important.
Manufacturing semiconductors in the United States helps protect national security and also reduces the risk of supply-chain delays. In August 2022, passage of the CHIPS Act set aside over $50 billion for American semiconductor research, development, manufacturing, and associated workforce development.
The new investment will lead to new facilities and research that are vital for kickstarting semiconductor manufacturing, but they are insufficient on their own.
A dramatic increase in the domestic production of semiconductors requires a dramatic increase in the number of US workers producing them.
This presents a challenge. In 2022, demographic trends and a complex economic environment combined to create the tightest job market in history, and the impact of that tightness is still being felt throughout the business world. In other words: we don’t have the workers to spare.
The CHIPS Act represents an immense investment in US manufacturing and technology, but the return on that investment depends on whether enough workers with sufficient skills can be deployed to meet the need and capitalize on the opportunity.
To understand the need, and how to meet it, Rebuilding Our Semiconductor Workforce addresses four key themes:
Understanding the Demand
To double American semiconductor production, over 230,000 new workers will need to be employed in the industry.
Meeting the Need
In a challenging labor market, semiconductor employers will need to be creative and deliberate in filling these roles. To find the necessary talent, some workers will need to be re-skilled while others will need to be redeployed.
Finding a Place
We identify the top 10 metro areas with workforces most ready for semiconductor production, as well as those with diverse workforce best suited for this kind of manufacturing, and how every region can position itself for CHIPS Act investment.
Looking Ahead
The CHIPS Act offers immense potential for American businesses, education providers, communities, and individuals.
Those who will benefit the most in the years to come will be those who are best prepared for it.
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