talent

The semiconductor industry faces an uncomfortable contradiction. Markets are expanding and demand continues rising, but the talent pool is shrinking.By 2030, the industry will need to add 1 million skilled workers globally, with shortages of over 100,000 engineers in Europe and more than 200,000 engineers in Asia-Pacific. This expansion requires at least 100,000 second-line leaders and 10,000 third-line leaders—many of whom must come from outside the industry.Markets Keep Growing, Leadership Doesn'tThe industry's outlook remains optimistic. Nearly one in five (19%) semiconductor executives anticipate continued demand growth without inventory excess in the next four years. Global sales hit $627.6 billion in 2024—a 19.1% increase driven by AI advancements, consumer electronics demand, 5G adoption, and automotive innovation.Governments are backing this growth with large investments too. The European Chips Act aims to double the EU's production share to 20% by 2030 with €43 billion. Companies like NXP Semiconductors, Infineon Technologies, and STMicroelectronics are expanding. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) remains the world's largest contract chipmaker. The UK government unveiled a £1 billion strategy over 10 years, while the CHIPS and Science Act allocated $52.7 billion for US manufacturing and research.But there aren't enough semiconductor leaders to manage this growth.The Education CrisisThe talent shortage begins in universities. Electrical engineering and computer science enrollment has been declining for years. Germany saw 6.5% fewer STEM students in 2021 than the previous year.An analysis of recent data shows concerning patterns. While Germany had 81,934 electrical engineering students in 2018, Ireland had only 742 new electrical engineering students in 2017. The United States awarded just 13,767 bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering in 2018.Retirement and Skills GapsWhile universities produce fewer graduates, experienced leaders are retiring. One-third of US semiconductor employees are 55 or older. In Germany, one-third of the workforce will retire within the next decade.The job itself is also changing. Artificial intelligence and machine learning have surpassed systems architecture as the most sought-after skills in European markets. Software engineers specializing in embedded programming are becoming more important than traditional design engineers.Competition and TurnoverThe semiconductor industry competes with other tech sectors for talent, and ninety-two percent of tech leaders report challenges finding skilled workers.Employee turnover is accelerating as well. Fifty-three percent of semiconductor workers were expected to resign in early 2024, compared to 40% in 2021. Top reasons include lack of career development (34%) and insufficient workplace flexibility (33%).Geographic ChallengesManufacturing concentration creates additional problems. Taiwan handles 65% of global manufacturing, China 15%, South Korea 12%, and the US 12%. Despite this, U.S.-based companies hold roughly 46.3% of global market share.Each region has developed different skill sets, making it difficult to move leaders across markets.What Companies Are DoingAbout 60% of senior executives believe semiconductor companies have weak employer brands compared to higher-profile tech companies. Many are working to change this through competitive compensation, improved work-life balance, and better career opportunities.Some companies are expanding their search beyond traditional candidates, too. Seventy-three percent now use skills-based hiring, focusing on capability rather than traditional backgrounds. Others target adjacent tech sectors for executives with transferable skills.Retention has become more important as well. With the tech industry's 13.2% attrition rate, companies are investing in career progression and workplace flexibility.Diversity initiatives are also still gaining traction worldwide. Women represent only 17% of semiconductor tech roles, compared to 23% in the industrial sector.The semiconductor industry's future depends on solving this talent paradox. Companies that act decisively to attract, develop, and retain leadership talent will be best positioned to capitalize on market opportunities.About the AuthorJan-Bart Smits is Managing Partner at Stanton Chase Amsterdam and Global Subsector Leader for the Semiconductor industry.

Geopolitical shifts, rapid technological advancement, and supply chain pressures continue to redefine the global semiconductor landscape. These forces framed the discussions at the 2025 SEMI Industry Strategy Symposium Europe (ISS Europe), held in Sopot, Poland. Over two days, industry leaders, and policymakers examined how Europe can boost resilience amid growing uncertainty.Artificial intelligence (AI) stood out as a key driver—powering global chip demand and transforming industry operations. In the past year, AI applications like generative models and edge computing helped push chip sales to new highs. The EU Chips Act, effective since September 2023, also fueled change. It has drawn tens of billions of euros into European semiconductor infrastructure, including major investments in Pomerania, the host region for this year’s symposium. “With AI expected to drive exponential growth in the semiconductor industry—projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030—Europe must act collectively to remain competitive,” said Laith Altimime, President of SEMI Europe. “We encourage collaboration across all countries to strengthen supply chain resilience, mitigate geopolitical risks, and harness the full potential of our diverse talent base.”Laith Altimime, President, SEMI EuropeSo what has the EU’s investment in the semiconductor industry achieved, and how much more remains to be done? Gustav Kalbe, Acting Director of Enabling and Emerging Technologies at the European Commission, cited €80 billion in public and private investment in European fabs as clear progress toward introducing "advanced technology that has not before been deployed on the continent of Europe." However, Kalbe emphasized a new urgency driven by AI’s rise. “We need in Europe a secure supply chain for AI chips in key sectors—particularly automotive,” said Kalbe. “That’s why we are really pushing for accelerated development of AI chips here.”Gustav Kalbe, Acting Director of Enabling and emerging technologies,DG CNECT, European CommissionPoland is a prime example of the EU Chips Act’s impact—driven by consistent government support. Dariusz Standerski, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Digital Affairs, highlighted Poland’s seven-pillar national semiconductor strategy, which includes expanding infrastructure and increasing engineering talent by 20% by 2030. “We need to build our production capacity to meet the strategic needs of Poland,” said Standerski. “Semiconductors are important not only because of market size, but because of their role in national security.”Dariusz Standerski, Secretary of State, Ministry of Digital Affairs, PolandRisks to the Industry from a World in Political TurmoilGeopolitical shifts and market volatility dominated the opening session of ISS Europe 2025. Malcolm Penn, CEO of Future Horizons, warned that despite strong 2024 revenues, industry fundamentals remain fragile. “All of the growth is in graphics processing units (GPUs) for AI and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI servers—every other product sector is currently in recession,” said Penn. He forecast 12% industry growth in 2025 but cautioned against overcapacity and price pressures from China. “We are not seeing unit growth, and without unit growth, you don’t have sustainable market growth,” explained Penn. “If momentum in AI slows, the industry could face a significant retrenchment.”Malcolm Penn, CEO of Future HorizonsLooking beyond the immediate outlook for semiconductors, Hendrik Bourgeois, Vice President for European Governmental Affairs at Intel, turned the spotlight onbroader economic and security challenges facing the region. Bourgeois outlined four strategic policy priorities for Europe: Build internal strength to ensure external (global) relevance;Deepen alliances beyond the United States—such as with the UK, Canada, Japan, and South Korea;Be open to a stronger economic relationship with China;Recognize that the U.S. is more than its federal government: states, cities, people and corporations all have a role to play in bringing stability and certainty.Hendrik Bourgeois, Vice President for European Governmental Affairs, IntelBenedikt Ernst, Senior Vice President and Head of Strategy Transformation at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, emphasized the strategic importance of strengthening Europe’s domestic semiconductor ecosystem. “No country or region can be fully self-sufficient,” said Ernst. “But Europe is particularly strong in domains like advanced materials, fabrication equipment, and semiconductor manufacturing. We have leading players in these fields – let’s bet on them.”Benedikt Ernst, Senior Vice President and Head of Strategy Transformation, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, GermanyMikolaj Trunin, Deputy Director of the Invest in Pomerania, and its Strategic Investment Manager Radoslaw Bojarczuk, highlighted the region’s rising profile among global investors. Despite a global downturn in foreign direct investment (FDI) since 2015, the region stretching from Gdansk and Warsaw to Dresden and Magdeburg is emerging as a vibrant semiconductor hub. “The environment is becoming increasingly attractive to outside investors drawn by the region’s large talent pool, robust venture capital activity, and strong and stable economic growth,” said Trunin.Left: Mikołaj Trunin, Deputy Director, Invest in PomeraniaRight: Radosław Bojarczuk, Strategic Investment Manager, Invest in PomeraniaAdvancing on the Roadmap to Net ZeroThe symposium’s second session tackled sustainability—how to grow the industry beyond $1 trillion in revenue while cutting emissions. AI emerged as a key enabler of sustainable innovation. Bill Lussier, Managing Director of Tokyo Electron Europe, highlighted recycled aluminum which has a much lower carbon footprint, but noted that semiconductor equipment requires ultra-pure aluminum, which is not available off-the-shelf in recycled form. “The solution is to create a new circular economy for ultra-pure aluminum—a supply chain so complex that it cannot be managed without the aid of AI,” explained Lussier.Bill Lussier, Managing Director, Tokyo Electron EuropeAI is also helping decarbonize logistics, a critical yet often overlooked part of the semiconductor ecosystem. Rainer Kiefer, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Sales at Schenker AG, underscored the environmental cost of air cargo: “We need smart supply chain design to reduce the air miles of chips.” AI supports this by optimizing routing, loads, predictive maintenance, and demand forecasting. Rainer Kiefer, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Sales, Schenker AGHowever, AI brings new energy demands. Malgorzata Kasperska, Vice President of Secure Power at Schneider Electric, urged greater efficiency in AI data centers: “We need to optimize both power capacity and efficiency, and deploy high-density infrastructure, all while enhancing sustainability practices.” Malgorzata Kasperska, Vice President of Secure Power, Schneider ElectricEnergy-intensive fab operations remain a major challenge. Charles Vaillant, Chief Technology Officer at MANN+HUMMEL, noted that heating and ventilation account for up to 50% of a fab’s energy use. To improve efficiency, the company introduced a filtration system using activated carbon ceramic technology. The innovation reduces pressure drop, cutting fan energy use and delivering up to 41% energy savings in cleanroom environments.Charles Vaillant, Chief Technology Officer at MANN+HUMMELFinding the Talent to Fuel the Industry’s GrowthAttracting and developing talent remains a critical challenge for the semiconductor industry. Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the OECD, cited a visibility gap: “Young people don’t see these engineering and IT jobs. You cannot be what you do not see.” Meike Boekelmann, Chief Human Resources Officer at Comet, echoed the sentiment. “Face-to-face, we can get people excited about joining our industry,” said Boekelmann. “The challenge is getting them in front of us in the first place.” Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills,Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)In a panel discussion on Bridging the Talent Gap for Sustainable Growth, moderated by SEMI Europe’s Maria Daniela Perez, speakers explored how industry and academia can better collaborate to meet evolving workforce demands. Thomas Kralinski, Saxon State Secretary of Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy and Climate, emphasized the importance of future-ready education. “Do we know which fab is going to be built in 2035, or which start-up will be founded? No—but all the people who will work there are already alive. We need education to prepare these people for this unknown future.Thomas Kralinski, Saxon State Secretary of Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy and ClimatePanel Discussion on Bridging the Talent Gap for Sustainable GrowthAI Intensifies Scale of Innovation in Semiconductor FabricationDay two of ISS Europe 2025 spotlighted AI’s transformative impact on semiconductor innovation, from materials to manufacturing and chip design. John Behnke, General Manager for Smart Manufacturing at INFICON, emphasized AI’s growing role in managing fab complexity. “You need a lot of highly knowledgeable people to run a fab today,” said Behnke. “They must analyze huge amounts of data, and balance priorities like quality, on-time delivery, cycle time, and profitability.” In the future, he explained, AI-powered optimization engines will shoulder that burden by making autonomous decisions.John Behnke, General Manager for Smart Manufacturing, INFICONJean-Christophe Eloy, CEO of Yole Group, pointed to the rapid growth of data centers as a catalyst for architectural transformation, predicting a shift from monolithic AI ASICs to chiplet-based designs. “In the future, we can expect to see much of the value in the semiconductor business transfer from the front-end chip to the advanced packaging that integrates chiplets,” said Eloy. Jean-Christophe Eloy, CEO, Yole GroupThis sentiment was echoed by Christophe Frey, Vice President of EU Engagement at Arm, who described the industry’s shift from systems-on-chip to systems-of-chips. “Chiplets represents a unique opportunity for Europe to re-enter the game of high-end chips,” said Frey. He emphasized the need for an open chiplet marketplace, an effort Arm supports, but warned, “There is a long road ahead of us,” citing the need for silicon qualification, profiling, test and debug infrastructure, software standards, and specifications for mechanical and thermal integration.Christophe Frey, Vice President of EU Engagement, ArmThat transition is already taking shape in manufacturing. Volker Herbig, Vice President of the Microsystems Business Unit at X-FAB, noted that capabilities developed for CMOS+MEMS sensor in the early 2000s are now enabling heterogeneous integration (HI) at scale. “We are now an open HI foundry,” said Herbig, adding that X-FAB is building a dedicated HI facility with support from the EU Chips Act. “This technology is propagating down from the high-performance computing (HPC) world to medical and industrial applications — It’s happening as we speak.”An Industry Changing Faster Than Ever Volker Herbig captured the industry’s rapid evolution with the “Red Queen” theory from Alice in Wonderland: “You need to run as fast as you can just to stay in the same place.”Volker Herbig, Vice-President, BU MEMS, X-FABClosing the symposium, Leonard Hobbs, Director for Government Affairs at Intel Ireland, cited Charles Darwin: “The species which can best adapt to changes in its environment is the one which survives,” Hobbs added, “Over the past two days we have learned much that can help Europe’s semiconductor industry to adapt successfully to a rapidly changed world.” Leonard Hobbs, Director for Government Affairs, Intel IrelandAt the symposium’s gala dinner, delegates celebrated leaders driving the industry forward. SEMI presented the 2024 SEMI European Award to Kurt Sievers, President and CEO of NXP Semiconductors, and honored Anna-Riikka Vuorikari-Antikainen, Chief Commercial Officer of Okmetic, with the Special Service Award.Kurt Sievers, President and CEO, NXP Semiconductors (Middle)Anna-Riikka Vuorikari-Antikainen, Chief Commercial Officer, OkmeticOn behalf of SEMI, the SEMI Europe team and ISS Europe committee would like to thank all speakers, sponsors, and attendees for making the event a great success.SEMI Contact Cassandra Melvin, Senior Director of Business Development and Operations Email: [email protected]