The Elkhart-Goshen (Indiana) area was named eighth in the nation for semiconductor workforce readiness in a study conducted by workforce data analytics firm Lightcast.
The report follows the signing of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which aims to bolster American semiconductor research, development and production.
According to the study, titled “Rebuilding Our Semiconductor Workforce: Making the Most of the CHIPS Act,” 230,000 new employees are needed in the industry to double the current U.S. percentage of global production of semiconductors. The area labor force readiness rankings consider the occupations with the newest demand, the top undersupplied occupations, and the number of similarly skilled workers in an area.
“The data backs up what we’ve known for a long time – the workforce in Elkhart County is skilled, eager to learn and ready for the challenge of this burgeoning industry,” said Chris Stager, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County. “An opportunity of this scale is rare, with $280 billion in spending through the Chips and Science Act dedicated to creating high-tech hubs and a highly skilled STEM workforce. We plan to make the most of this opportunity to advance Elkhart County’s robust manufacturing capabilities.”
Semiconductors are microchips made from elements like silicon or compounds such as gallium arsenide. These materials land near the middle on the scale of electrical conductivity, falling between conductors such as metals and insulators like ceramics.
Described by the Semiconductor Industry Association as the “brains of modern electronics,” semiconductors are an integral component of technology, playing a role in nearly every facet of life.
While semiconductor manufacturing originated in the U.S., today only 12 percent of global production happens in the U.S., dropping from its peak of 37 percent in 1990.
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