MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES PARTNER WITH SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY AS IT STRUGGLES TO OBTAIN SUFFICIENT WORKFORCE IN ARIZONA

Maricopa Community College set to train 4,000 to 6,000 semiconductor technicians from the local workforce over the next few years as demand escalates

According to a July 14 article in the Capitol Times by  Steven R. Gonzales, Chancellor of the Maricopa County Community College District, two of the three largest semiconductor manufacturers in the world  have announced a combined total of nearly $50 billion in new investments in Arizona, enabling the construction of multiple new, expansive manufacturing hubs. (To read the Capital Times article please click here.) He writes that “these companies have turned to the Maricopa County Community College District” for training assistance.

Gonzales says that “the college is currently working to train 4,000 to 6,000 semiconductor technicians from the local workforce over the next few years. We also have plans to offer more advanced training programs that will allow local technicians to further develop their skills and advance in their careers. In 2022-23, 53% of our semiconductor training program students were first-generation college students, and a majority identified as students of color.”

It is noted that the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced July 21, 2023, that it will delay production at the huge factory it is building in North Phoenix at least in part because of  a shortage of skilled workers. The company now plans to start producing 5-nanometer chips at the Phoenix plant in 2025, a year later than previously anticipated.

“We are encountering certain challenges, as there is an insufficient amount of skilled workers with those specialized expertise required for equipment installation in a semiconductor-grade facility,” the Chairman of the Company said.