As chipmakers expand U.S. production, community colleges are rolling out accelerated, hands-on programs to prepare workers for entry-level semiconductor factory jobs.

The push is fueled by investments encouraged by the 2022 CHIPS Act, with companies and federal agencies helping schools buy equipment, widen access and tailor training to industry needs.

In Arizona, Rio Salado College launched a free, 12-week course this fall after consulting with TSMC and Intel; students practice fabrication procedures in virtual reality and complete about 20 hours in a clean room at Arizona State University.

The programs draw students from varied backgrounds, including a debt-burdened business student, an older teacher, a recently laid-off software developer and workers without degrees, with graduates able to interview with major chipmakers.

The effort extends well beyond Arizona: more than 200 community colleges and universities have coordinated with SEMI on workforce preparation, while Austin Community College and West Valley College offer similar short-term pathways.

Alongside local training, companies are bringing experienced engineers and technicians from Taiwan and South Korea to help run new facilities and train U.S. workers; TSMC’s $265 billion development in northern Phoenix is expected to generate 25,000 jobs over roughly the next decade, about half for locally hired technicians.

The hiring challenge is substantial: SEMI estimates the U.S. semiconductor industry could face a shortage of as many as 157,000 full-time workers by 2030, with Arizona, Texas, Ohio, California and New York particularly exposed, potentially complicating factory plans and U.S. ambitions in artificial intelligence.

It remains unclear whether accelerated training can scale fast enough to meet demand, especially in an industry where precision, safety and reliability are essential.