Stronger Together – the theme of SEMICON West 2024 – underscores the power of collaboration, unity, and community in the semiconductor industry. It’s a reminder that we can achieve more when we work together towards a common goal – whether to reach $1 trillion in revenue by 2030 or to create a more resilient, sustainable semiconductor supply chain.
For the SEMI Foundation, Stronger Together means partnering with industry stakeholders to cultivate a more inclusive and diverse workforce, where everyone is welcome and can establish a rewarding career while helping the semiconductor industry fulfill its potential.
Over the three days of SEMICON West, July 9-11 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, the Workforce Development (WFD) Pavilion will connect SEMI members, including human resource professionals and talent recruiters from across the global microelectronics industry, with current job seekers and those aspiring to work in the industry.
Students, recent graduates, military veterans and professionals returning to work after an absence will find programming and activities aimed at helping them launch or grow their careers in the semiconductor industry. Each day the pavilion will illuminate a different pathway to career success. One plus for job seekers is that between sessions they can get a professional portrait photo taken – compliments of SEMICON West – at Head Shot Central, located next to the Workforce Development Pavilion in the North Hall of the Moscone Center.
This year’s Workforce Development Pavilion is made possible through the generous support of sponsors Advantest, ASM International, ASML, BHS, Comet Technologies USA, Edwards Vacuum, Nikon Precision and TEL.
Day One – Fostering an Inclusive and Equitable Workforce
Workplaces that foster inclusion tend to be more innovative and creative and better at decision-making than their less diverse counterparts. They are also more effective in encouraging employee success and retention. Throughout the first day of programming, industry professionals will share how and why fostering inclusivity and equitable workplaces helps both companies and employees thrive, showing how we are truly Stronger Together.
Shari Liss, Executive Director, and Michelle Williams-Vaden, Deputy Senior Director of Strategy and Partnerships, of the SEMI Foundation will kick off the programming with an overview of the many national and global initiatives SEMI offers to support member companies in attracting, developing and retaining a diverse and skilled workforce.
Their presentations will be followed by a panel discussion highlighting the SEMI Foundation’s newest initiative: Semiconductor PRIDE. Panelists from Applied Materials, Intel, Micron and WGNSTAR will share how companies can recruit, hire and retain top talent and increase LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity within their companies and the semiconductor industry at large.
Other presentations will focus on topics ranging from Fostering a Dynamic Workforce and Bridging the Gender Gap to Diversity Through Military Hiring and Making Jobs in the Semiconductor Industry Accessible to All. The SEMI Foundation SCAN (SEMI Career & Apprenticeship Network) will also come into focus.
SEMICON West Workforce Development Pavilion
Day Two – Chip In! The Semiconductor Industry Needs You!
Analysts estimate that, by 2030, the chip industry will need 1 million more skilled workers to meet exploding demand for semiconductors. In a nod to last year’s release of the Chip In! documentary, which explores exciting careers in microelectronics through the eyes of three twenty-somethings, the second day of programming will feature engaging presentations, highlight leadership opportunities, and offer interactive activities to expand awareness among students and job seekers about rewarding careers in microelectronics.
The day will begin with the A Day in the Life of a ... session, during which industry professionals from Energetiq, Edwards Vacuum and Nikon Precision will share their career paths and the tremendous benefits of working in the semiconductor industry.
Talent professionals from EMD Electronics will discuss how rotational programs can help companies identify, nurture and retain top talent, while speakers from Micron and Cadence Design Systems will offer resume writing, interviewing and job search and career tips.
Melinda Gomez, Manager of Veteran Initiatives at SEMI Foundation, will highlight the SEMI Career Portal, a powerful one-stop resource for college students, military veterans and job seekers wanting to learn more about the industry and identify the jobs best suited for them. In her interactive session, Gomez will walk attendees through steps for completing the portal’s skills and interests assessments section to help them identify career paths that align with their goals.
Following the presentations, students can meet with industry professionals and human resources experts at the Flash Mentoring session to learn more about career opportunities and discover what it’s like to work in the semiconductor industry. Companies participating in the session will include Advantest, Edwards Vacuum, EMD Electronics, Energetiq, Nikon Precision, Micron, Nova, Pivotal Systems, Synopsys, TEL and WGNSTAR.
After the session, presenters and attendees will be welcome to participate in the workforce development networking reception in the Workforce Development Pavilion – another opportunity for industry stakeholder and job seekers to connect.
Day Three – Attracting the Next Generation: Building a Diverse Talent Pipeline
Workforce Development Pavilion speakers on the final day of SEMICON West will highlight how to develop a skilled and talented workforce to support a more resilient supply chain. They’ll also provide details about California’s Career Technical Education (CTE), aimed at creating multi-level pathways to training certifications, internships and apprenticeships to help high-school students prepare for careers in microelectronics. Attendees will learn how to connect and partner with local school districts to develop training programs to meet future semiconductor workforce needs.
Stronger Together
To register for SEMICON West and learn more about all the workforce development sessions scheduled in the Workforce Development Pavilion, visit SEMICON West 2024.
Margaret Kindling is Senior Program Manager for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the SEMI Foundation. She promotes inclusion and diversity through her work on Women in Semiconductors, Semiconductor PRIDE and other workforce development activities.
