The Biden-Harris Administration has launched the National Semiconductor Technology Center’s (NSTC) Workforce Center of Excellence (WCoE) with a planned $250 million investment over ten years. This initiative aims to address workforce development challenges in the U.S. semiconductor industry, as global demand for advanced semiconductors increases.
The WCoE will bring together various stakeholders from the private sector, government, non-profits, training providers, educational institutions, and labor organizations. Their goal is to develop solutions for workforce issues, promote best practices, and enhance recruitment and training efforts in the semiconductor field.
The Department of Commerce’s investment aligns with President Biden and Vice President Harris’s goals of driving innovation in the U.S. and supporting workers in securing good-paying jobs in the semiconductor industry. Natcast, a non-profit entity designated by the Department of Commerce to operate the NSTC, announced more than $11 million in anticipated awards across multiple states through the NSTC Workforce Partner Alliance (WFPA) program.
“Our nation’s competitiveness relies on a strong, diverse, and empowered workforce. That’s why under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, we’re taking decisive action to provide our workers with the resources, skills and opportunities they need to secure good-paying jobs in industries of the future. The mission of the WCoE and WFPA will play a crucial role in this effort,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
“The Biden-Harris administration continues to build a highly skilled workforce that drives innovation by investing in America and our workers,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su.
John D. Ratliff will lead the WCoE as Executive Director and Vice President at Natcast. The center aims to equip workers at all career stages with necessary skills for success in the semiconductor industry through collaborative efforts with NSTC members.
Natcast plans to fund $11.5 million for seven institutions under its inaugural WFPA award program to support semiconductor workforce development across more than a dozen states. These projects aim to train over 12,000 individuals for long-term roles in the semiconductor industry through innovative delivery models.
Some key programs include:
- American Federation of Teachers Educational Foundation (AFTEF): Expanding an Advanced Technology Framework partnership with Micron.
- Idaho Technology Council (ITC): Launching Enhanced Access to Semiconductor Industry in Idaho (EASII).
- Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD): Expanding semiconductor technician training offerings.
- Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT): Implementing Broadening Research and Inter-Disciplinary Graduate Education (BRIDGE) for Microelectronics.
- Texas A&M University: Empowering WAVE-CHIP project.
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA): Establishing Center for Education of Microchip Designers (CEMiD).
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC): Developing Illinois Semiconductor Workforce Network (ISWN).
Deirdre Hanford, CEO of Natcast stated: “The mission of the NSTC Workforce Center for Excellence is to develop a strong U.S. semiconductor workforce development ecosystem that seamlessly aligns with the rapidly evolving demands of today’s industry.”
Natcast is also forming a Workforce Advisory Board comprising key stakeholders from various sectors to guide national and regional workforce strategies.
“Training all Americans...is critical to U.S. competitiveness,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan.
More information about these initiatives can be found at natcast.org or chips.gov.
