Women account for about 35% of the STEM workforce in the United States, according to Women Tech Network, but that number drops to approximately 27% for women working in technical, computer and engineering roles.

For the semiconductor industry, this presents an opportunity to tap into a deep pool of skilled talent. After all, the strength of the semiconductor industry lies in its diversity, and ability to embrace the best and brightest. That includes for women.

Expanding the workforce

TSMC Arizona is leading the way by empowering women to work in STEM fields.

A recent example is Jennifer De La Cruz, an equipment technician at the company’s north Phoenix site. Each workday, she suits up for her job in the cleanroom at TSMC Arizona in north Phoenix, where she maintains and troubleshoots the equipment that powers the world’s most advanced chips.

De La Cruz discovered TSMC Arizona at a career fair hosted by the nonprofit Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, which helps women achieve self-sufficiency and build stable lives. She then completed the company’s technician apprenticeship program.

That was more than a year ago. Since then, in addition to engineering roles, a growing number of women – including several from Fresh Start –  have joined the company in direct fab roles and contractor positions. It’s a win-win for those like De La Cruz who want good-paying careers that do not require a college degree.

Pathways to good-paying careers

In addition to recruiting engineers, TSMC Arizona partners with Arizona colleges and universities on specialized programs to build a pipeline of equipment, manufacturing and processing technicians. Each program combines supervision, structure, on-the-job training and related technical instruction, as well as personal and professional development.

The programs are free, take weeks – not months – to complete and are offered in flexible formats that fit into students’ lives, whether they are working full-time, transitioning careers or just starting in the field. For women, that flexibility has proven valuable. For De La Cruz, it gave her the opportunity to switch from the fast-food industry to the semiconductor industry, and provide a better life for her family.

In 2026, TSMC Arizona reaffirmed its commitment to igniting women’s interest in the semiconductor industry by awarding a $20,000 grant to Fresh Start. Additionally, TSMC’s employee resource group, “Women @ TSMC” provides their female employees with a supportive community.

It’s all part of a plan to build a pipeline of women in tech.

A plan for the future

STEM jobs are expected to grow by 8.1% through 2034 – faster than the 2.7% growth projected for non-STEM occupations.

During the next few years, TSMC Arizona also has a big vision to grow to more than six fabs, two advanced packaging facilities and a research center as part of its $265 billion U.S. investment.

Achieving this plan will require filling thousands of jobs at every level. That takes good people, including skilled women for whom a career in the semiconductor industry may not have once seemed possible.

To learn about TSMC Arizona’s free technician training programs, visit https://tsmcaz.info/m/technicianpathways.

For more information about TSMC Arizona jobs, visit https://www.tsmc.com/static/english/careers/.