A new study projects a shortfall of 67,000 skilled workers in the U.S. semiconductor industry by 2030.

 

A new study projects a shortfall of 67,000 skilled workers in the U.S. semiconductor industry by 2030.  The report by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and Oxford Economics warns that the current rate of graduates won't be enough to fill demand. The study coincides with efforts to fortify the U.S. chip sector through the U.S. CHIPS Act, which allocates funds for new chip manufacturing sites and R&D. The legislation will create job opportunities, and the projected worker shortage includes computer scientists, engineers, and technicians; with engineers accounting for about half of the future industry jobs. The study projects a growth of around 115,000 jobs in the U.S. semiconductor industry by 2030, reaching about 460,000 jobs from the current 345,000. The shortage is part of a broader deficit in STEM graduates in the U.S., with an estimated 1.4 million positions potentially remaining unfilled by the end of 2023. To address the talent gap, the study makes policy recommendations, such as attracting more international students with advanced degrees and boosting support for regional partnerships and programs for skilled technicians.