Thoughts On the Latest CHIPS Act Uncertainty

Last week, US President Donald Trump asked congressto repeal the CHIPS and Science Act. The act, passed in 2022, involved pouring $280 billion into US semiconductor manufacturing. As I write, congress has not shown any signs of moving forwardwith the request to repeal the law. Still, the semiconductor industry is on alert.

It's not certain what will happen to the law. We don't yet know how congress will respond.

I understand confidence among semiconductor firms is mixed, but there's also a lot of momentum in the industry right now. We see the demand for chips continue to go up, especially as AI takes off.

That's the good news.

How We're Working to Meet Industry Staffing Challenges

Our team at CTG knows staffing remains critical. We know it's often the bottleneck for fabs of all sizes. These challenges are well-documentedand will continue to exist with or without the CHIPS Act funding.

We also know through experience how tough it can be to fill some of these specialized roles.

Yet we're proud to say we've been involved in solving staffing challenges for fabs around the country.

Most recently, we were able to help fill the roles of notoriously tough-to-find positions in one of the country's biggest semiconductor hubs. These roles include validation engineers, who ensure chips are designed to spec. Other examples include design and equipment engineers, who design the chips and calibrate machinery.

We've worked with local universities and training programs, including the SUNY Polytechnic Institute, to find the right talent for our clients. We intend to continue and expand our work throughout the US from Arizona to New York to Texas.

Working Together Through Uncertainty

I get the latest news adds some extra uncertainty, especially if you're currently staffing a semiconductor fab. You're not alone.

Whatever happens, know that you have partners on your side that can help you find the talent you need, even through these uncertain times.

We're here to help.