Anyone interested in working as a technician for semiconductor facilities may be in luck, as Intel and Gov. Katie Hobbs launch the tech giant's first U.S. apprenticeship program for manufacturing facility technicians.
Over the next five years, Intel plans to train dozens of apprentices. Those selected will be considered full-time employees of Intel and earn a certificate and college credit upon completing the one-year program.
The program will consist of classroom instruction and on-the-job training where they will learn the core competencies needed for facility technician roles, including hand-tool basics with mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and vacuum systems, electrical basics, and electronics, and handling of chemicals and gases.
Intel hopes to expand the program to include men and women. The applicants come out of the Semiconductor Technician Quick Start program, a two-week program out of Maricopa Community Colleges that teaches individuals the skills needed for entry-level semiconductor technician positions.
In Arizona, the pay for Semiconductor Processing Technicians is an average salary of nearly $30 per hour or $62,370 per year.
Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, said facility technicians are not just for Intel but are important across the industry.
"This is really critical for the overall industry. This program specifically is a significant milestone for Arizona's workforce and for the industry," Watson said. "The industry is looking to draw from a variety of different populations, and the fact that the first cohort will be women is incredibly exciting for us."
Intel is collaborating with the Fresh Start Women's Foundation, specifically targeting women and underrepresented groups to enter the state’s fast-growing semiconductor industry and launch a career with limitless potential.
Cindi Harper, an Intel executive who helps recruit talent for Intel both internally and externally, says the industry is an untapped area that women just don't know about.
"If we have a cohort of women in an area that we know is a shortage, we can work together to learn about why women may or may not be interested," Harper said.
Other collaborations include the Arizona Commerce Authority, SEMI Foundation, Maricopa Community Colleges, and the Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Board.
"When it comes to workforce collaboration, no state does it better than Arizona," Watson said. "We have launched several programs who not only support this industry but support many advanced manufacturing industries across our state."
In November, Hobbs announced an allocation of $4 million to facilitate the expansion of semiconductor apprenticeships in Arizona. These funds will cover the cost of tuition books, materials, and supplies as well as support services such as transportation and childcare.
The efforts put in place to grow the semiconductor industry have resulted in the expansion of the industry across the nation, but there is a great need for workers.
The Semiconductor Industry Association released a study that found that the United States faces a significant shortage of technicians, computer scientists, and engineers.
By 2030 the association projects the semiconductor industry’s workforce will grow by nearly 115,000 jobs. From these new jobs, it is estimated there will be a risk of 67,000 positions being unfulfilled.
Phoenix has become one of America's major semiconductor hubs. Tech companies like Intel have helped launch over 40 projects, generating over 15,700 jobs across Arizona.
Harper looks forward to learning from this apprenticeship program and exploring how it can be expanded.
"The intent would be to expand broader," Harper said. "It would be nice to get some of the women to talk about their experience saying this is what I did to overcome some of those barriers and how I saw a career that I may not have seen before. This would hopefully get other women interested in the program."