Study: Elkhart-Goshen top 10 for microchip workforce readiness
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A new study conducted by data analytics firm Lightcast shows the workforce in the Elkhart-Goshen metro area is primed to benefit from the nation’s resurgence in microchip production. The region is ranked 8th in the U.S. for semiconductor workforce readiness.
According to the study, 230,000 new employees are needed in the industry to double the current U.S. percentage of global production of semiconductors.
The area labor force readiness rankings consider the occupations with the newest demand, the top undersupplied occupations, and the number of similarly skilled workers in an area.
In placing Elkhart-Goshen at No. 8, Lightcast said:
The Elkhart-Goshen region in northern Indiana has a high concentration of workers in many manufacturing-related occupations, including Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators, Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders for Metal and Plastic, and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers.
The study was prompted by the signing of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which aims to bolster American semiconductor research, development and production.
“The data backs up what we’ve known for a long time – the workforce in Elkhart County is skilled, eager to learn and ready for the challenge of this burgeoning industry,” said Chris Stager, President and CEO of the Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart County. “An opportunity of this scale is rare, with $280 billion in spending through the Chips and Science Act dedicated to creating high-tech hubs and a highly skilled STEM workforce. We plan to make the most of this opportunity to advance Elkhart County’s robust manufacturing capabilities.”
Last summer, the University of Notre Dame signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the Midwest Regional Network to Address National Needs in Semiconductor and Microelectronics. According to the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership, the network has expanded to include 24 universities and five community colleges.
“Universities and community colleges in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio are now coordinated to encourage and support the development of semiconductor manufacturing in the Midwest,” said Alan Seabaugh, professor of electrical engineering at Notre Dame, and the director of NDnano, Notre Dame’s Nanoscience and Technology center.
The Lightcast study ranked the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California metropolitan statistical area (MSA) top in the nation.
Click here to access the rest of the top ten list.