Biden Administration Launches Program To Bolster US Chip Workforce

The Biden administration has initiated a new program to develop the U.S. computer-chip workforce, aiming to prevent a labor shortage that could hinder domestic semiconductor production.

The initiative, called the workforce partner alliance, will utilize part of the $5 billion federal funding allocated for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC).

Bloomberg reported that up to 10 workforce development projects will receive grants ranging from $500,000 to $2 million.

The NSTC will launch additional application processes in the coming months, determining the total spending after all proposals are reviewed.

This funding comes from the 2022 Chips and Science Act, which earmarked $39 billion in grants for U.S. chipmaking and $11 billion for semiconductor research, including the NSTC.

Companies have pledged over ten times this amount, reshaping the global semiconductor supply chain. This announcement marks the first workforce-focused funding effort under the legislation.

Officials have cautioned that new factories could struggle without substantial labor investment, with estimates predicting a shortfall of 90,000 technicians by 2030.

Since the Chips Act was signed, over 50 community colleges have introduced or expanded semiconductor-related programs.

Major recipients of Chips Act funding—Intel Corp. INTC, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. TSM, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd SSNLF, and Micron Technology Inc. MU, each allocated $40 million to $50 million for workforce development.

Additionally, the Commerce Department announced a $6.7 million grant to Rogue Valley Microdevices to support a new Florida factory for defense and biomedical chip applications.

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• Taiwan Semiconductor Expands Operations As Demand For AI, 5G, Server, And Data Center Markets Grow

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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