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?
Minding the workforce gap
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.
To meet this demand, it will be important for universities and colleges to work alongside industry leaders to ensure students graduate with the skills employers need.
Offering hands-on experience in semiconductor fabrication, clean-room-based labs and advanced process design will be essential for preparing a workforce that’s ready to contribute from Day 1.
At Missouri University of Science of Technology, where I am the chair of the materials science and engineering department, we’re launching a multidisciplinary bachelor’s degree in semiconductor engineering this fall.
Other universities across the US are also expanding their semiconductor engineering options amid strong demand from both industry and students.
Historic growth opportunity
Rebuilding domestic semiconductor manufacturing isn’t just about national security – it’s an economic opportunity that could benefit millions of Americans.
By expanding training programs and workforce pipelines, the US can create tens of thousands of high-paying jobs, strengthening the economy and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
And the race to secure semiconductor supply chains isn’t just about stability – it’s about innovation. The US has long been a global leader in semiconductor research and development, but recent supply chain disruptions have shown the risks of allowing manufacturing to move overseas.
If the US wants to remain at the forefront of technological advancement in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and next-generation communication systems, it seems clear to me it will need new workers – not just new factories – to gain control of its semiconductor production.
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. Read the original article.
Problem with US is that most grads want to go where the fast money lies, nd that’s usually fintech. Getting into Wall Street means you can become a millionaire by the time you’re thirty, instead of wasting away working for a Taiwanese boss.
And in another article in AT, a factory is entirely run with robots.
Perhaps, that is the short-cut.
America wakes up to its NIGHTMARE of NOT ENOUGH Engineers🤣🤣
Chinese Engineers are RE-PATRIATING to China thanks to the anti-China Sinophobia.
America gets what it deserved 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕
Don’t let the door hit your xxx on the way out.
But still Chinese people want to migrate to the USA…. is it the larger sausages.
Yeah, usually though, the unskilled workers, who end up living in Chinatown and working in restaurants not chip fab factories.
There used to be more Chinese students in US, less now. And the huge sausages and bananas are cooked up NBA types that Mrs Kanye West wants.
This is the way to compete- via internal excellence, rather than external sabotage of opponents. The US was once an education powerhouse. No reason why it can’t become one again.
It will be hard, reversing 50yrs of lowering standards.
That’s why you keep open defecating.
Many if not most of the engineers and high-tech workers needed are of East Asian background of which most are of Chinese heritage. But current US administrations on both sides of politics are dominated by Sinophobes and rednecks who want to deport East Asian Americans if they had the chance. So that’s the problem!
That’s China’s solution. They’ve been guiding the regimes in the US to do just that for their benifits. It couldn’t have worked out better. All the engineers and tech experts are leaving the US and going back to China.
When are you off, Bob? China is a place you won’t feel ashamed in the locker room.
Yet so many Chinese still want to go to US/Aus/etc. Is it the larger sausages?
Your sausages are taken by big non Chinese. Your opposite sex hankers for black sausage. Chinese are too small for your forever references to sausage and weiner.