Arizona semiconductor apprenticeship program expands to address growing workforce needs

PHOENIX – Arizona officials and business leaders gathered Tuesday to announce the expansion of a semiconductor apprenticeship program, further addressing the growing need for skilled workers in the state.

TSMC Arizona is spearheading the effort to train technicians as it builds out a sprawling campus with three semiconductor manufacturing facilities in north Phoenix. TSMC Arizona is the local subsidiary of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, a global microchip production giant.

“TSMC Arizona will represent the most advanced semiconductor process technology in the U.S. right now. We understand the strong need to expose jobseekers, even K-12, to our unique industry,” Rose Castanares, TSMC Arizona president, said during the announcement event, which included Gov. Katie Hobbs and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.

Once the facilities near Loop 303 and 51st Avenue are fully operational, TSMC Arizona expects to employ about 6,000 workers to produce microchips for smartphones, cars, satellites, weapons systems and other electronics.

“TSMC makes the most advanced chips in the world. They are in important products, and right now they are made in Taiwan. We’re changing that, and we are going to have cutting-edge technology here in Phoenix,” Gallego said.

Last week, the federal government completed the process of awarding TSMC with $6.6 billion in grant funding from the CHIPS and Science Act.

“Now that we have secured this investment, we are doubling down on ramping up our workforce and connecting Arizonans to these good-paying jobs,” Hobbs said.

What is the semiconductor apprenticeship program?

To prepare the local workforce for thousands of technician jobs, TSMC Arizona invested $5 million to start the semiconductor apprenticeship program earlier this year in partnership with the city of Phoenix. The initiative launched with training for facilities technician positions through an 18- to 24-month program that includes a classroom curriculum from Estrella Mountain Community College.

Per Tuesday’s announcement, the following three technician jobs are being added to the program, with five Valley schools now participating in the classroom portion:

• Equipment technician through Estrella Mountain Community College.
• Process technician through the Northern Arizona University North Valley campus and Rio Salado Community College.
• Manufacturing technician specialist through Grand Canyon University and West-MEC.

Nearly 130 applicants will be selected to participate in the semiconductor apprenticeship program for 2025. Anybody interested can apply online now.

“People who go into apprenticeship programs get a high level of training and they stay in these career fields,” Gallego said. “What’s different about what we’re doing here in Arizona is we’re doing apprentices inside the fabrication facility. We’re helping train highly advanced technicians.”

The first class of semiconductor apprentices joined TSMC Arizona on a full-time basis in April.

“They are now eight months into earning their first journeyman’s card. We’re so proud to have them. They have made us all believers in what is possible in this program,” Castanares said.

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