Intel, Husted, COTC announce educational programs for workers in semiconductor industry
NEWARK − Before Intel Corp. can hire workers to operate its $20 billion computer chip manufacturing facility in western Licking County, it needs an educated and trained workforce.
But before there are thousands of workers educated in the semiconductor industry, there needs to be courses available at Ohio schools and teachers hired to instruct them.
There are many steps in the process leading up to the expected 2025 beginning of production at the Intel facility in the New Albany portion of Licking County, but state and local leaders announced a big step Monday at Central Ohio Technical College, where one class begins this fall.
Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted joined leaders from Intel, JobsOhio and the state's community and technical colleges Monday to unveil programs and career pathways to fast-track workers needed to fill the Intel jobs. The curriculum was developed in about six months.
"Ohio is committed to building the greatest workforce in the Midwest," Husted said. "We want to be the economic juggernaut in the Midwest. The reason that I love working on economic development and workforce development is when we get it right, everyone wins."
Jim Evers, the vice president and general manager for Intel Ohio, thanked everyone involved for the collaboration and commitment in helping Intel acquire a workforce for its Ohio One site.
"As someone who went through two years of community college, this day is absolutely special," Evers said. "Once established, the Silicon Heartland will be the new epicenter for leading edge technology and help rebalance the global semiconductor supply chain.
"The impact is going to be profound. A semiconductor fab is not like other factories. Building a site like this is like building a small city."
Evers praised the state's infrastructure, manufacturing history and its career and technology schools, colleges and universities. He said the challenge will be great to build a talented workforce in the semiconductor industry.
In the coming decade, the semiconductor industry will add 115,000 jobs in the U.S., a 33% growth, Evers said. Half of those jobs are at risk of going unfilled, he said. Technicians represent 39% of those unfilled jobs, or 24,000.
"Access to top talent is a priority for Intel," Evers said. 'We're committed to investing in the education initiatives to develop the future pipeline."
Intel expects to hire 3,000 full-time high-skilled employees to operate the factories, including 2,000 technicians more than 700 engineers and up to 150 support workers. Hundreds more will work for regional semiconductor suppliers.
Central Ohio Technical College President John Berry said, students can begin taking courses this fall, working toward an associate degree in engineering, and in the spring can take courses leading to a short-term certificate. The courses they take this fall can also be applied toward the one-year certificate.
Three weeks of engagement on Facebook and Instagram revealed 340 individuls interested in taking the classes.
"There is so much interest and so much opportunity," Berry said. "The opportunities here, they are golden. They are substative and they are wide open."
Berry said everyone is entering unfamiliar territory, including Intel, which has not started a new fabrication center in 40 years.
“They had to take a look and get to know the state of Ohio, what we have and how we do our work, and then they had to come forward and say this is what we need, as a finished product,” Berry said. “And how do we work to get to that messy middle and push it forward? They were very up front.”
Asif Khan, a COTC professor in electrical engineering, helped determine how the curriculum would work at COTC. Khan, also a COTC graduate, will teach a semiconductor class. He has been at COTC since 2014.
"My students are very excited about the opportunity," Khan said. "Before, they could find jobs in engineering. But this — they are sure if they get the degree, they will have a job. This is something everyone wanted to be associated with. When I heard about it, I said I'm going to do whatever it takes."
Courses for the degree programs were developed by the Ohio Association of Community College's Semiconductor Collaboration Network, with help from a grant from Intel. The courses range from rapid noncredit offerings, to eight- and 16-week sessions.
The network created degrees in Manufacturing Foundations, Semiconductor 101 and Vacuum Systems.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Intel, Husted, COTC unveil programs for semiconductor industry workers
