Today, Mayor Kate Gallego, joined by Senior Biden-Harris Administration officials, academic experts, labor representatives, and TSMC, NXP, Spirit Electronics, and Intel leadership, announced the launch of multiple initiatives to cultivate the next generation of semiconductor industry talent. The effort will create an apprenticeship program for high-wage manufacturing jobs. In May 2023, the White House named Phoenix as one of five “Invest in America” Workforce Hubs due to the record level of private sector investments spurred by landmark laws like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.

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“After months of hard work with the Biden Administration and so many of our partners across industry, labor, and academia, I am thrilled to kick off this multi-pronged program to ramp up and cultivate the talent pipeline needed to fill high-wage manufacturing jobs in Phoenix,” said Mayor Gallego. “As our city continues its strong growth in the semiconductor industry and its many branches, it is more important than ever that we bring Phoenicians the education and training they need to land a great-paying job that can help support their family. That’s what our collaborative new effort is all about.”  

Today’s announcements include: 

  • A $5 million private sector commitment to establish a new semiconductor technician Registered Apprenticeship program; 
  • A $5 million philanthropic fund to provide 1,500 Arizonans with supportive services to enter in-demand jobs of the future; 
  • New partnerships between unions and community colleges to expand access to apprenticeship and credentialing programs, and more.  

Since 2020, Arizona has seen over $77 billion in private investment in semiconductor, battery, electric vehicle, clean energy, and biomanufacturing sectors. In response, Arizona, and more specifically, Phoenix, has been hard at work to accelerate the creation of workforce pathways into advanced manufacturing to meet demand for talent in these critical sectors. 

Building on that investment, Gallego established a series of critical new partnerships to build talent pipelines for high-wage manufacturing jobs in partnership with the Workforce Hub’s two anchor institutions, Maricopa Community College and Arizona State University.  By launching new collaborative efforts with employers, unions, community colleges, and other institutions, Phoenix will support a diverse range of workers to enter and succeed in careers in advanced manufacturing. As a result of this work, the Phoenix region is now home to the Arizona’s first semiconductor Registered Apprenticeship programs. The City of Phoenix’s workforce board is the first-ever to sponsor a Registered Apprenticeship program in this industry.  

For more information and details, click HERE. 

See what local leaders are saying about the new program: 

“The new Phoenix-led Semiconductor Registered Apprenticeship Program is a remarkable achievement for the City of Phoenix and welcome addition to help bolster the Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Board’s ongoing efforts to advance the manufacturing sector.  Thank you to Mayor Gallego for making workforce development a key cornerstone of her community and economic development strategy and for creating the conditions for this wonderful opportunity,” said Sam Wolo, Chair, Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Board.   
 
“Just as we committed to bringing the world’s most advanced semiconductor technology to the US, we are equally committed to investing and building an advanced workforce which matches it,” said Brian Harrison, President, TSMC Arizona. “TSMC Arizona is grateful for the leadership of Phoenix Mayor Gallego, and the support of many education partners across the Valley for aligning on this first-of-its kind registered technician apprentice program which will serve us for decades to come.” 
 

“Arizona State University strives not only to be an innovator but to be a good partner and today’s announcement is a model we are very familiar with,” said Sally Morton, Executive Vice President of ASU’s Knowledge Enterprise. “We have done the work to create opportunity in Arizona that can only be fully realized by working together — the private sector, local and state government, encouraged and supported by the federal government — to produce a diverse range of workers to enter and succeed in careers in advanced manufacturing. ASU is pleased to serve the state as a public university helping drive these advancements.” 

“MCCCD is excited to increase enrollment and completion in the construction trades and registered apprenticeship programs with potential partners like the Arizona Building and Construction Trades Council,” said President Dr. Richard Daniel, Maricopa Community Colleges’ President of South Mountain Community College. “Our shared goal is to ensure that students have an opportunity to understand the opportunities and pathways that exist in this industry which lead to employment and a successful career which can transform the lives in many of our communities across the state. As a leader in regional workforce development, we are proud to support these important initiatives alongside Governor Hobbs, Mayor Gallego, and business and industry, aimed at strengthening Arizona construction trades bolstering the state’s thriving infrastructure.