The United States is panicking, lacking talent to build chip economy | Semiconductors | The United States
According to a report on the website of the US National Defense monthly on July 25, a new study released on July 25 shows that by 2030, the US semiconductor industry is expected to face a gap of 67100 technicians, computer scientists and engineers, and the entire US economy will face a 1.4 million talent gap.
Semiconductors are an important component of electronic devices, crucial not only for defense technology but also for many other application areas of the US economy. This report, released by the Semiconductor Industry Association of America and the Oxford Institute of Economics in the UK, states that many key technologies that help promote economic growth and strengthen defense, from communication to security, cannot be separated from semiconductors.
The report predicts that by 2030, the semiconductor industry will require a total of 238000 technical personnel, computer scientists, and engineers. The report points out that if action is not taken to address the talent gap, the United States may not be able to fully unleash its potential in capacity growth, supply chain resilience, and technological innovation leadership.
Dan Martin, Senior Economist and Chief Researcher at Oxford Institute of Economics, an economic consulting firm, said, "Our analysis demonstrates the key high skilled positions in the semiconductor industry and the potential shortage of technical talent that the industry may face if proactive talent development measures are not taken."
In a statement released by the Semiconductor Industry Association, he said, "In the future, as the semiconductor industry in the United States increases production capacity, tens of thousands of new workers with higher education and training will need to fill emerging job opportunities."
In addition, the shortage of technical talents faced by the semiconductor industry also affects the entire US economy. Network security, artificial intelligence, next-generation communication, and other strategically important technology industries all face similar gaps. The report states that unless talent channels are expanded, the entire US economy will face the risk of 1.4 million jobs not being filled.
The report highlights several key policy recommendations aimed at helping to narrow the talent gap and strengthen the technical workforce in the United States. By 2030, the shortage of technical personnel is expected to reach 26400. Therefore, the report suggests increasing support for regional cooperative relationships and projects, which will help expand talent channels to fill skilled technical worker positions in semiconductor manufacturing and other advanced manufacturing industries.
The report states that for 80% of technical personnel, obtaining qualification certification takes 6 to 24 months, which has prompted many semiconductor companies to develop new plans and expand existing plans to recruit new employees and impart technology to them.
The report states, "Therefore, it is necessary to expand the scale of qualification training camps, apprenticeship programs, and other training programs in communities and technical colleges near newly built and expanded semiconductor factories. This will be an effective means to help narrow the gap in technical personnel. Tailoring certain courses and educational programs to enter the semiconductor industry will ensure that students are prepared for future employment."
Due to the fact that higher education programs typically take 4 to 10 years to complete, the report suggests making broader efforts to expand the channels for talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and cultivate the engineers and computer scientists needed for the semiconductor industry and the US economy.
The report states, "To narrow these gaps, a comprehensive STEM strategy needs to be launched, starting with increasing students' interest in STEM opportunities in primary and secondary education. At the higher education level, students should be encouraged to study STEM majors and be informed about job opportunities in the semiconductor industry."
The report also suggests retaining and attracting more highly educated international students, as by 2030, relying solely on local graduates will no longer be able to effectively solve the labor shortage problem.
The report states, "We need to increase the supply of engineering graduates among American citizens, especially master's and doctoral students, as most of these graduates are foreigners. This is crucial for us to achieve economic and national security goals. However, in the short to medium term, given the longer time required to cultivate these talents, it is necessary to retain more foreign students graduating from American universities."
