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Semiconductor Companies Invest in Talent Development

By NAM NewsroomNovember 3, 2026

The U.S. faces a shortage of up to 157,000 semiconductor workers by the end of the decade, according to a recent report from McKinsey and the SEMI Foundation (CNBC).

What’s going on: “Only 3% of U.S. graduates who take engineering roles enter the semiconductor industry each year, according to McKinsey, and 73% of chip employers report significant difficulty in filling engineering roles.”

  • The semiconductor industry needs many more skilled technicians and engineers as it expands to meet demand driven by the artificial intelligence boom.

Around the U.S.: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and Intel have new fabrication plants in Arizona, while Samsung plans to begin production at one of its two new fabs in Texas this year.

  • Samsung is investing $35 billion in Texas and expects to create approximately 3,500 jobs.

Investing in training: Schools across the country have launched hands-on training programs, many in partnership with semiconductor manufacturers.

  • TSMC “visited about a dozen universities last year, and plans to offer advanced jobs to many of its hundreds of interns, to help fill some 6,000 roles at its first three fabs in Arizona.”
  • In 2024, Intel launched an apprenticeship program in Arizona and pledged $50 million in scholarships at more than 80 Ohio schools near its facility under construction.
  • In 2023, Samsung launched a workforce development program, donating millions of dollars to the University of Texas, Texas A&M and the University of Illinois.
  • Samsung also gave “$1 million to help launch new technical labs at Taylor High School last year and hosts more than 100 interns annually.”

The last word: “The semiconductor industry’s workforce needs reflect a broader challenge for U.S. manufacturing: ensuring workers have the skills to keep pace with technological change,” said Manufacturing Institute President Carolyn Lee. “Employer-led training and strong connections between industry and education are essential to preparing workers for the jobs manufacturers need to fill.”