Intel will soon launch its first US registered apprenticeship program for manufacturing facility technicians. This program will be offered in collaboration with Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), the Pheonix Business and Workforce Development Board, the SEMI Foundation Maricopa Community Colleges District (MCCD), and Fresh Start Women’s Foundation.
Intel plans to train facility technician apprentices over the next five years. The company will induct selected apprentices as its full-time employees on day one and will earn a certificate and college credit upon successful competition of the one-year program.
Speaking on the occasion, Christy Pambianchi, Intel chief people officer said, “Facility technicians are responsible for the setup, maintenance and performance of the complex machinery used to build semiconductors. There is a very small pool of trained applicants with this specific skill set. Intel’s new apprenticeship program addresses this challenge by providing hands-on training in our fabs, expanding the semiconductor talent pipeline to help meet the workforce demand of the future.”
With the semiconductor landscape expanding, traditional recruiting methods is becoming obsolete. According to SIA, the semiconductor industry is expected to add nearly 115,000 jobs by 2030, and roughly 58% of these new jobs risk going unfilled. Of these unfilled jobs, 39% are projected to involve technician roles, most of which require certificates or two-year degrees. However, the apprenticeship program benefits both individuals and organizations as it provides valuable skills, experiences and industry-specific knowledge. This improves career opportunities and contributes to a more skilled and competitive workforce.
Intel’s one-year program will offer a mix of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Participants will be hired as Intel employees as they learn the core competencies needed for facility technician roles, including hand-tool basics with mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic and vacuum systems; electrical basics and electronics; handling of chemicals and gases; and communications skills, problem solving and critical thinking. Intel’s apprenticeship program provides more technical skills than other opportunities within the industry, focusing on hands-on skills in gas and chemical facility training.
This is one of several commitments Intel has made to workforce development, investing more than $250 million in academic collaborations over the past five years. Intel continues to partner with community colleges and nonprofits in Arizona and Oregon through the two-week Quick Start pilot program and in New Mexico with a one- or two-term Mechatronics certificate program. All aim to support the semiconductor industry’s growing employment needs and spark interest in new career pathways among under-resourced communities.
In Ohio, Intel is working with the Ohio Association of Community Colleges’ Semiconductor Collaboration network to launch programs and career pathways that aim to meet the demands of the semiconductor sector, foster economic development and provide accessible education across the state.
Additionally, Intel’s AI for Workforce Program is a first-of-its-kind community college program offered free to participating schools. It provides more than 600 hours of artificial intelligence (AI) content, professional training for faculty and implementation guidance.
Intel will continue to prioritize workforce development initiatives that create inclusive pathways, improve people’s lives and enable the company to create life-changing technology. With proposed CHIPS and Science Act funding, Intel hopes to expand the new apprenticeship program to its other U.S. sites.
