As Semiconductor Sales Soar, Career Opportunities Abound

In 2025 and beyond, semiconductor sales—along with employment opportunities for engineers in the dynamic chip industry—are expected to rise precipitously.

Specifically, estimated global semiconductor sales of nearly US$700 billion in 2025 are forecasted to grow to US$1 trillion by 2030 and potentially reach US$2 trillion by 2040, according to a Deloitte Insights report.

A number of trends are driving the semiconductor industry forward. First, post-pandemic sales of computers, tablets, smartphones, and other wireless and wired communications devices—which collectively accounted for nearly 60% of global semiconductor sales as of 2023-2024—are forecasted to experience strong growth during the next five to ten years. Additionally, demand for high-tech “generative AI chips” is on the rise. These chips enable computers’ central processing units (CPUs) to execute machine learning algorithms for everything from facial recognition applications to customer service-related chatbots, language processing for voice assistants, and more.

On the design side, growth of the semiconductor market is supported by an increasingly popular chip manufacturing strategy known as “shift left,” which enables tasks that were once performed sequentially to be done concurrently for greater efficiency and cost savings.

Working to Meet Demand

The semiconductor manufacturing community has responded to the projected boom in sales by aggressively working to increase capacity worldwide.

For example, after investing US$65 billion into chip fabrication facilities in Phoenix, Arizona in 2020, industry leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) recently announced additional investment of US$100 billion in order to double that location’s manufacturing capacity. Supported by almost US$8 billion in funding from the U.S. CHIPS (“Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors”) and Science Act of August 2022, key player Intel recently announced its plans to invest US$100 billion to expand its U.S-based domestic chip manufacturing capacity and capabilities in Arizona and Ohio.

Elsewhere around the world, STMicroelectronics recently announced its intention to build a new, high-volume manufacturing facility in France. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) is working to expand three of its existing Chinese facilities in Shanghai, Beijing, and Tianjin. Manufacturers Nvidia, AMD, and Micron have all announced plans to establish new operations in India.

A Skills Gap Persists

While worldwide sales of semiconductors, as well as manufacturing capacity to meet demand, are all on the uptick, one major challenge stands to potentially derail production: a global shortage of skilled workers.

In the U.S. alone, new semiconductor facilities are short by nearly 70,000 workers needed to staff them. Of those positions, approximately 41% are in the engineering fields, 39% are technician roles, and another 20% are in computer science. This shortage threatens to impair the industry’s potential in the years to come, according to a study by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). Furthermore, a recent report claimed that an estimated 400,000 additional professionals would be needed to fulfill Europe’s semiconductor industry goals, while China was some 30,000 workers short of meeting its semiconductor targets.

“Because semiconductors are foundational to virtually all critical technologies of today and the future,” the SIA study confirmed, “closing the talent gap in the chip industry will be central to the promotion of growth and innovation throughout the economy.”

Experts from Deloitte agreed, noting that the semiconductor field will need “electrical engineers to design chips and the tools that make the chips,” while “digital skills, such as cloud, AI, and analytics, are needed in design and manufacturing more than ever.”

Positioning Engineers for Success in Semiconductors and AI

With the proliferation of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and edge computing all driving much of the semiconductor industry’s explosive growth, IEEE offers a range of online learning programs designed to ensure that semiconductor professionals are well-versed in the latest AI advancements, techniques, and skills in order to be well-positioned for career success. Resources include:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Chip Design:
Offered by IEEE Educational Activities in partnership with IEEE Future Directions and IEEE Global Semiconductors, this course program discusses the significance of artificial intelligence and machine learning. It provides an overview of how these technologies are shaping the future of chip design as well as key applications in design automation, relevant technologies, deployment considerations, and future prospects.
Integrating Edge AI and Advanced Nanotechnology in Semiconductor Applications:
This five-course program created in partnership with the IEEE Computer Society helps learners understand the intersection of artificial intelligence, edge computing, and nanotechnology with real-life applications and future trends.
Semiconductor Manufacturing: Impact and Effectiveness of AI
This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the evolving landscape of semiconductor manufacturing with special emphasis on the integration of artificial intelligence into this critical industry.

This eLearning content is available to individuals through the IEEE Learning Network (ILN), which provides flexible learning options for professionals at all levels.

Upon successfully completing the programs, participants earn professional development credits, including Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and Continuing Education Units (CEUs). They’ll also receive a digital badge highlighting their proficiency in the technology area which can be showcased on social media.

If you are interested in obtaining institutional access to full course programs through your organization, please contact an IEEE Content Specialist today.