Today, the Florida Semiconductor Institute (FSI) released a strategic semiconductor workforce report, titled ”Analysis of Pre-Baccalaureate Workforce for Florida’s Semiconductor Industry.” This report analyzed and quantified emergent semiconductor-related job demand through 2030 and identified clear strengths in Florida’s workforce training pipelines. This report is one element of a comprehensive effort to support the semiconductor industry in the state. Florida currently ranks fifth nationally for the number of semiconductor manufacturing employees, third nationally for number of semiconductor establishments, and is well positioned for sustainable growth.
Semiconductor Workforce Report Reveals Strength in Florida’s Technical Talent Pipeline
Funded in part by the Florida Department of Education, the report is informed by input from over 20 Florida companies, analysis of educational programs and enrollment data, and broader national and global trends. With a focus on industry needs and career opportunities for technicians, emerging labor demands were estimated along with 77 desired skills/experiences across various education levels—high school, some college, and Associate degree. The labor and skill needs were then compared against the curricular content and student completion rates of 102 existing career and technical education (CTE) frameworks to identify topical content gaps and trainee shortages.
The report reveals several key findings. Florida’s semiconductor/electronics workforce is anticipated to grow 25% by the end of the decade, increasing from 18,000 current jobs today to nearly 23,000 jobs in 2030, including ~2,300 new jobs for technicians. The biggest job demand is for pre-baccalaureate trainees to fill new and replacement positions, currently calling for 1,200 trainees per year, but swelling to 1,500 trainees per year in 2030. Florida’s existing secondary and post-secondary CTE programs cover nearly all of the industry-desired skills. “Benefiting from years of focus in our state on career and technical education, Florida is a national leader in workforce development,” said Prof. David Arnold, Director of the Florida Semiconductor Institute.
The report predicts an adequate labor supply of high-school graduates, but a shortage of labor at the state college level, most critically a lack of engineering technicians with two-year A.S. degrees. In addition to analysis, the report provides 15 actionable recommendations for stakeholders in industry, education, and government. Increasing awareness of the Florida semiconductor industry and the high-wage career opportunities across all education levels is essential. Another key priority is filling training gaps, increasing enrollments, and eliminating bottlenecks to ensure a steady flow of skilled talent ready to meet the demands of industry.
“Our workforce is a major attractant for high-tech industry and a key reason Florida has the fastest manufacturing growth rate in the country. More importantly, we are providing good jobs and career pathways to individual workers, leading to economic prosperity for families and communities,” said Arnold.
This study serves as a blueprint for building the technical talent pipeline for the nation’s rapidly growing chip manufacturing industry. FSI is teaming with partners across the country to ensure sustained and coordinated workforce development programs that meet the demands of today and tomorrow.
The full report is available here: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/IR00012255/00001/pdf.