Community colleges rush to expand semiconductor training as labor shortage looms US chip industry

Community colleges in the U.S. are expanding rapid semiconductor training as labor shortages loom for the chip industry. The push is illustrated in Tempe, Arizona, where Rio Salado College offers a tuition-free, three-month crash course. Ethan Mock, 23, joined despite having no background, after accumulating more than $100,000 in debt at Northern Arizona University and looking for stability. The program includes interviews with major chipmakers and hands-on lab work using equipment to turn thin slices of silicon into chips for smartphones, robotics and data centers. Industry groups warn the U.S. could face a shortage of up to 157,000 full-time workers by 2030, potentially stalling plans. The CHIPS Act has helped fund equipment and partnerships involving the NSF and companies such as TSMC, Samsung and SK Hynix.