Chip industry could face labor shortage on back of fast-paced US growth

“The lack of specialized personnel can really impact silicon production, since skilled workers are essential for the intricate processes involved in chip manufacturing,” noted Beatriz Valle, senior analyst, enterprise technology & services, at GlobalData. “A lack of qualified personnel can lead to delays in production schedules in what already are extremely long production lifecycles, affecting the supply chain and leading to shortages of chips.”

Indeed, shortages in the availability of semiconductors capable of running generative AI models in hyperscale computing scenarios already have forced cloud service providers like Amazon and Google to build their own in-house technology to meet growing processor demands, according to research from GlobalData. Now AI could now face a similar crossroads, she said.

“The scarcity of microprocessors can significantly impact the US because chips are the backbone of AI growth,” Valle said. “A shortage can slow down the development and deployment of new AI technologies, delaying innovation.”

Labor challenges extend to construction of chipmaking facilities

Despite the alarm generated by the McKinsey report, another analyst believes that the situation is not as dire as some experts are predicting, and that the discussion about lack of talent in the industry is being over-hyped.

“I don’t see a crisis situation – when there will be jobs/opportunities, companies will find people,” noted Gaurav Gupta, VP analyst, emerging trends and technologies, at Gartner. “I don’t see [labor shortage] as a hurdle in ramping operations.”

What may be more difficult, he said, is to find construction workers to build a raft of new fabrication facilities that various OEMs are planning in the US. This could delay ambitious plans to expand domestic production of chips and thus create a different sort of issue for the industry.