Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced today 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.
Joined by Michigan education and business leaders along with the head of the Michigan Development Economic Corporation’s Talent Solutions Team, Lt. Gov. Gilchrist II outlined Michigan’s plan to achieve superiority in the global semiconductor industry during a virtual press conference this morning.
View and download a recording of the press conference here.
“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 II 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.”
Lt. Gov. Gilchrist II 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,” Ebersole Singh added.
“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:
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Computer engineers
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Electrical engineers
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Industrial/process engineers
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Semiconductor processing technicians
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Maintenance 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 TODAY 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:
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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.
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Develop semiconductor education curricula and flexible training models to jump-start career paths to the five in-demand job roles.
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Expand and launch new PK-12 semiconductor engagement and awareness efforts such as skills boot camps.
The news conference highlighted Michigan’s recent semiconductor accomplishments, including:
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A new public-private partnership with semiconductor company KLA, Belgium-based technology innovation hub imec, the MEDC, the University of Michigan, Washtenaw Community College and General Motors that will establish a global semiconductor center of excellence in Michigan as part of the state’s new Semiconductor Talent and Automotive Research (STAR) initiative.
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Michigan’s appeal to Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo urging the U.S. Economic Development Administration to designate a regional technology and innovation hub in Michigan. As part of a $500 million national investment, a Michigan Tech Hub would create good-paying, high-skill jobs in industries of the future, building on the state’s economic momentum by expanding Michigan’s knowledge economy.
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The University of Michigan and Michigan State University’s collaboration with nine other Midwestern institutions to help universities that might not have the infrastructure — such as laboratory space or trained faculty — to give students semiconductor experience.
Background
For growth-minded companies looking for the right business environment, Pure Michigan means Pure Opportunity. That’s why the MEDC has created Talent Action Teams with an initial focus on the semiconductor and EV/mobility sectors.
The Semiconductor TAT aims to provide talent and research solutions to ensure employers can meet projected growth of up to 30,000 semiconductor jobs by 2030, positioning the Great Lakes State as employers’ go-to solution for talent and research partnership.
Michigan’s semiconductor industry by the numbers
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The semiconductor industry contributes $4.6 billion in total gross regional product for Michigan.
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Michigan’s semiconductor workforce ranks among the top 10 in the nation, with job growth projected to grow by at least 11% in the next five years.
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Michigan is among the top states in the nation for semiconductor manufacturing, with industry jobs growing 12% between 2015 and 2020.
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Michigan ranks fifth in the nation for employment in industries related to electric vehicle battery manufacturing, with 2,200 workers employed at Michigan battery manufacturing and OEM locations.
A hub for the semiconductor industry
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Today, one-third of U.S. battery production and development occurs in Michigan, with 1,500 workers employed at various battery manufacturing and OEM locations, including LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and AKASOL.
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With leading manufacturers, suppliers, R&D facilities, universities and ancillary services that contribute to the state’s setup for success, Michigan is leading the world for the next generation of semiconductor manufacturing and development through its robust R&D ecosystem. Michigan ranks in the top 10 nationally for the number of STEM degree completions at our higher education institutions and is home to the fifth-largest advanced manufacturing workforce in the country.
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The University of Michigan is the top global institute for semiconductor training.
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As the global epicenter of the automotive industry and home to one-fifth of U.S. auto production, Michigan is equipped to support the increasing global demand for semiconductor technology.
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With a rich history in manufacturing and innovation, Michigan is poised to be a guiding hand as the world’s needs for semiconductor technology continue to evolve in the 21st century.
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To learn more about how Michigan is a leader in the semiconductor industry, go to https://www.michiganbusiness.org/semiconductor.
