European Chips Skills Academy Unveils Comprehensive Skills Strategy to Boost Competitiveness of Semiconductor Ecosystem
November 6, 2024 | SEMIEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The European Chips Skills Academy (ECSA), an EU-funded initiative coordinated by SEMI, announced the publication of the Skills Strategy report by DECISION Etudes & Conseil that outlines the strategic approaches required to tackle Europe’s growing talent shortage in the semiconductor sector. The report provides critical insights into the industry’s workforce demand and supply, while outlining methods to address the talent gap by 2030.
With increasing demand for chips and the investments from the EU Chips Act beginning to gain traction, the semiconductor industry is expected to experience substantial growth in the coming years. The report shows a projected employment annual growth rate of 5% by 2030, with more than 271,000 job openings expected over the forecast period. However, the current pipeline of graduates is not growing at a sufficient rate to match this growth. The report predicts a shortage of over 75,000 technical jobs across key areas such as hardware and software engineering, technicians, and data specialists.
Despite Europe producing over 1.1 million STEM graduates in 2022 and 320,000 in semiconductor related fields of study, only 6% of European STEM graduates are expected to enter the semiconductor industry. With many of these graduates opting for engineering careers in unrelated domains or positions beyond traditional engineering sectors, it is essential for Europe to respond to solve the talent gap.
ECSA’s Skills Strategy recommends both short- and long-term solutions. In the short-term, Europe should optimize the existing labor supply by improving EU-wide mobility, simplifying visa processes for non-EU workers, and reskilling current employees to meet evolving needs.
"Strategic communications campaigns will be pivotal in driving long-term growth in student interest in semiconductor-related disciplines," said Laith Altimime, President of SEMI Europe. "The influx of STEM graduates into the sector is heavily shaped by the industry's ability to project a compelling image, further enhancing its attractiveness as a desirable and innovative field for emerging talent."
“Collaboration between education and industry needs to be strengthened to meet the long-term demand of the industry,” said Raphaël Beaujeu, Senior Consultant at DECISION Etudes & Conseil. “Aligning the academic curricula with the needs of the sector will ensure a sustainable pipeline of skilled workers that can drive innovation and productivity in Europe.”
Initiatives such as ECSA are well positioned to help address the talent gap by offering relevant training with input from industry. The wide network of companies involved with the ECSA aid in promoting STEM careers and ensuring a diverse workforce.
With the semiconductor industry at the core of global digital transformation, Europe’s ability to close the skills gap in its ecosystem will be crucial in maintaining competitiveness on the global stage.
Suggested Items
Global Semiconductor Manufacturing Industry Records Strong Growth in Q3 2024
11/20/2024 | SEMIThe global semiconductor manufacturing industry in the third quarter of 2024 showed strong momentum with all key industry indicators performing positive quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) increases for the first time in two years.
CHIPS for America Announces New Proposed $285 Million Award for CHIPS Manufacturing USA Institute for Digital Twins
11/19/2024 | U.S. Department of CommerceThe Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Semiconductor Research Corporation Manufacturing Consortium Corporation (SRC) are entering negotiations for the Department to provide SRC $285 million to establish and operate a Manufacturing USA institute headquartered in Durham, North Carolina.
SIA Commends Finalization of CHIPS Incentives for TSMC
11/18/2024 | SIAThe Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) released the following statement from SIA President and CEO John Neuffer applauding finalization of the agreement to allocate incentives to TSMC under the CHIPS and Science Act. The agreement between TSMC and the U.S. Department of Commerce will support the expansion of TSMC’s semiconductor fabs in Arizona.
Biden-Harris Administration: CHIPS Incentives Award to TSMC Arizona
11/15/2024 | U.S. Chamber of CommerceTSMC Arizona Corporation (TSMC Arizona), a subsidiary of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC), up to $6.6 billion in direct funding under the CHIPS Incentives Program’s Funding Opportunity for Commercial Fabrication Facilities.
CE3S Appointed as East Coast Distributor for The Millice Group of Companies
11/15/2024 | CE3SCumberland Electronics Strategic Supply Solutions (CE3S), your strategic sourcing, professional solutions and distribution partner, is proud to announce its appointment as the official East Coast distributor for The Millice Group of Companies, a global leader in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing solutions.