The Great Lakes State is launching its largest-ever campaign to promote careers, recruit talent and attract new businesses to fill jobs in Michigan’s thriving semiconductor industry, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced May 24.
Joined by Michigan education and business leaders along with the head of the Michigan Development Economic Corporation’s Talent Solutions Team, Gilchrist outlined Michigan’s plan to achieve superiority in the global semiconductor industry during a virtual press conference.
“Michigan is going all in to make it clear that our talented people make our state the best place to start and grow business in the semiconductor industry,” Gilchrist said.
“Michigan is a global leader and hub for advanced manufacturing and innovation, and we have grown our semiconductor industry footprint aggressively,” he said. “Let’s keep working together to bring advanced manufacturing and critical supply chains home as we create economic opportunity in every region and build a brighter future for Michigan.”
Gilchrist was joined by MEDC Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Solutions & Engagement Officer Kerry Ebersole Singh; University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono; Michigan State University Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff; Wayne State University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Mark Lawrence Kornbluh; Michigan Technological University President Richard J. Koubek; Delta College President Michael Gavin; Lansing Community College President Steve Robinson; Washtenaw Community College President and CEO Rose B. Bellanca; KLA Global ESG Leader and Ann Arbor Site Lead John McLaughlin and Bay City-based SK Siltron CSS CEO Jianwei Dong.
“Michigan is leading the nation with an “all-hands-on-deck” consortium that has successfully identified key skills and competencies most needed by employers to drive future microchip industry development,” Ebersole Singh said. “That’s not just the Gov. Whitmer Administration or the MEDC saying that. That’s what we’re hearing from leaders of the semiconductor industry who are encouraged and excited by what Michigan is doing right now.”
The MEDC’s Semiconductor Talent Action Team (TAT) is a collaborative, public/private partnership aimed at making Michigan a top state for semiconductor talent solutions and growth. The TAT will build on the Great Lakes State’s push to onshore critical supply chains of semiconductors back to Michigan, creating good-paying jobs and reducing delays and shortages. As Michigan seeks to support research and development and manufacturing facilities, an increase in supply of engineers and technicians will be critical to semiconductor success.
Michigan’s Semiconductor TAT has already successfully built a consortium that includes seven higher education partners, 15 semiconductor employers and two industry associations that are collaborating with the state to focus on five semiconductor roles with demand across priority value chain areas: computer engineers, electrical engineers, industrial/process engineers, semiconductor processing technicians and aintenance and repair workers.
Michigan is among the first states in the nation with a consortium that has successfully identified key skills and competencies most needed by employers to drive future microchip industry development.
MEDC TAT officials say more of Michigan’s four-year- and two-year-degree institutions are invited to join the consortium, especially as community colleges are considered a crucial piece of the microelectronics workforce puzzle that Michigan is looking to solve.
To support this effort, launching is an online application (TAT Semi Grant | Michigan Business) for prospective higher education consortium members to apply for up to $3 million in grants to:
- Create a Semiconductor Scholars incentive within The Michigander Scholars Program that will mirror the state’s popular EV/mobility student recruitment campaign. The Michigander Scholars Program’s EV/Mobility cohort has already identified more than 30 Michigan university students who are eligible for up to $10,000 in scholarships and starting full-time positions and internships in Michigan with partner employers. Furthermore, the cohort has more than 200 students actively participating in networking and programming with industry leaders.
- Develop semiconductor education curricula and flexible training models to jump-start career paths to the five in-demand job roles.
- Expand and launch new PK-12 semiconductor engagement and awareness efforts such as skills boot camps.
To learn more about how Michigan is a leader in the semiconductor industry, go to www.michiganbusiness.org/semiconductor.
Source: State of Michigan
