U.S. Semiconductor Talent Shortage to Reach 157,000 Workers by 2030, Threatening TSMC and Intel Expansion

According to analysis by McKinsey, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SEMI), and the U.S. National Science Foundation, the U.S. semiconductor industry faces a projected shortage of up to 157,000 full-time high-skilled workers by 2030. The shortage will be most acute in Texas, California, Arizona, New York, and Ohio, the very regions where major chip manufacturers plan new facilities.

The labor crisis threatens TSMC's $265 billion investment in Arizona to build 12 fabrication and advanced packaging plants, Micron's $100 billion memory production facility in New York, Samsung's logic chip factory in Texas, and Intel's delayed $28 billion project in Ohio. The analysis found that only 3% of U.S. engineering graduates pursue semiconductor careers, with most choosing higher-paying software and AI roles instead.