As we reported in a recent issue of The Hustle, the microchip industry has a mega-problem: A preexisting talent shortage paired with a huge increase in demand has manufacturers scrambling to fill jobs.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the US needs to add 70k-90k skilled semiconductor workers over the next 3 years just to keep up with existing demand. That figure could rise to 300k+ as the country attempts to wean itself off foreign-made chips.

The picture is the same elsewhere:

  • China is short 250k+ chip workers
  • Taiwan is seeing its largest employment gap in years
  • A single Dutch company (ASML) expects to grow its ~31k+ workforce by 10%+ per year just to meet the demand for their products