Alliance to Promote Training for New Jobs in Northeast United States
Staff -- Semiconductor International, 8/1/1998
Alliance to Promote Training for New Jobs in Northeast United States
A combination of over 10 New England-area semiconductor companies and 10 area
colleges joined forces with SEMATECH and SEMI/SEMATECH (Austin, Texas) to announce
a campaign to develop a high-tech workforce in New England. The initiative is
designed to fulfill the demand for more than 5000 semiconductor technicians
and skilled operators over the next four years.
The New England-based campaign is part of a national campaign to promote programs in semiconductor manufacturing, offered at more than 50 community and technical colleges across the United States. Through a toll-free hot line (1-888-4CHIPJOBS) and World Wide Web site (www.4chipjobs.com), potential students can learn about the industry and the need for trained technicians and skilled operators.
"The number of students earning technical associate's degrees in the United States has declined in recent years, according to the National Science Foundation, while the demand for them has increased among all high-tech industries," said Cathleen Barton, program manager for the national SEMATECH-sponsored workforce development initiative. "The companies in the consortia realized they could be more successful in developing the needed workforce by working collaboratively instead of competitively." Colleges participating in the Northeast workforce initiative graduate less than 200 students per year with associates degrees in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing.
