I've heard from various sources that its rather difficult to find highly skilled workers in the States and that it's been a problem for at least a decade. There are a fair number of reputable institutions, but an apparent shortfall nonetheless. Does anyone know the causes? Are people training other skills?
The cause is that anything practical is deemed as "a trade skill" is simply an "application of the theory we teach" and surely can be learned by the student in their free time.
It seems to me, that the true issue is an inability to talk US workers into anything more than 8hr/5day work periods nor any of the other restrictions that US works, and really any laborer in any other country should, have come to expect. Breaks, sick/holiday time and the rest are probably off the table for TSMC. By Highly Skilled, they really mean, willing to do anything for little pay and long hours with no job security in sight.
Wait until you discover what Europeans get then you'll understand why this plant is being built in the US.
In the UK (which is far from the most generous) parents can share 50 weeks of parental leave between them when a child is born. Employers must hold their job for their return.
They can certainly be talked into it but TSMC isn't used to having to pay a premium for that, and in the US and EU they will have to do it to get labor to work the night shift, because people can get other work if they are smart enough to do FAB work.
As far as training. Honestly, I have been in FABs most of my adult life as a researcher, you can spend 1-2 months on someone hands on and make them useful. It isn't that complex. The engineering is but not the maintenance. Its going to be copy exactly anyway. The workers don't need to understand the statistics of EUV shot noise and defects to maintain the tools.
I'd say this is basically not true, and an excuse. TSMC doesn't know how to operate in the US yet, that is a learning curve as well. Is Samsung saying they need to slow down? Micron? Intel? Ti? They are all building new FABs in the US right now. Only TSMC is saying this. The difference is all those others already play in the US.
There will be a labor shortfall because so much capacity is coming online at similar times but if it was real now others would be slowing their roll outs more and honestly we don't see that (yet).
I'd like to suggest that the other companies get people coming right out of college. Then they have the people sign non-compete agreements. Then no one can work at TSMC.
Lack of qualified people? I live in AZ and you should see how crazy these job postings are. $35,000-$50,000/year salary for positions requiring extensive experience/education. Even for people fresh out of college, that's not enough to support student loan payments, let alone all other costs of living. If they paid better, I'm certain there would be no lack of qualified people.
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Threska - Monday, December 4, 2023 - link
Hopefully not delayed like the TSMC plant for lack of qualified people.PeachNCream - Monday, December 4, 2023 - link
I've heard from various sources that its rather difficult to find highly skilled workers in the States and that it's been a problem for at least a decade. There are a fair number of reputable institutions, but an apparent shortfall nonetheless. Does anyone know the causes? Are people training other skills?lmcd - Monday, December 4, 2023 - link
The cause is that anything practical is deemed as "a trade skill" is simply an "application of the theory we teach" and surely can be learned by the student in their free time.HaninAT - Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - link
It seems to me, that the true issue is an inability to talk US workers into anything more than 8hr/5day work periods nor any of the other restrictions that US works, and really any laborer in any other country should, have come to expect. Breaks, sick/holiday time and the rest are probably off the table for TSMC. By Highly Skilled, they really mean, willing to do anything for little pay and long hours with no job security in sight.hbsource - Wednesday, December 6, 2023 - link
Wait until you discover what Europeans get then you'll understand why this plant is being built in the US.In the UK (which is far from the most generous) parents can share 50 weeks of parental leave between them when a child is born. Employers must hold their job for their return.
drwho9437 - Thursday, December 7, 2023 - link
They can certainly be talked into it but TSMC isn't used to having to pay a premium for that, and in the US and EU they will have to do it to get labor to work the night shift, because people can get other work if they are smart enough to do FAB work.As far as training. Honestly, I have been in FABs most of my adult life as a researcher, you can spend 1-2 months on someone hands on and make them useful. It isn't that complex. The engineering is but not the maintenance. Its going to be copy exactly anyway. The workers don't need to understand the statistics of EUV shot noise and defects to maintain the tools.
gdansk - Wednesday, December 6, 2023 - link
It's lack of experience in some areas. Constructing & operating fabrication facilities is a lost art in the US outside of Oregon.pugster - Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - link
They only announced it, no shovels in the ground yet. I will believe it when I see it.drwho9437 - Thursday, December 7, 2023 - link
I'd say this is basically not true, and an excuse. TSMC doesn't know how to operate in the US yet, that is a learning curve as well. Is Samsung saying they need to slow down? Micron? Intel? Ti? They are all building new FABs in the US right now. Only TSMC is saying this. The difference is all those others already play in the US.There will be a labor shortfall because so much capacity is coming online at similar times but if it was real now others would be slowing their roll outs more and honestly we don't see that (yet).
ballsystemlord - Friday, December 8, 2023 - link
I'd like to suggest that the other companies get people coming right out of college. Then they have the people sign non-compete agreements. Then no one can work at TSMC.Hythlodaeus - Sunday, December 24, 2023 - link
Lack of qualified people? I live in AZ and you should see how crazy these job postings are. $35,000-$50,000/year salary for positions requiring extensive experience/education. Even for people fresh out of college, that's not enough to support student loan payments, let alone all other costs of living. If they paid better, I'm certain there would be no lack of qualified people.mukiex - Friday, December 29, 2023 - link
I wonder if this is for Vision Pro, rather than chipsets.