Samsung, SK Hynix Import South Korean Workers as U.S. Chip Labor Gap Hits 157,000
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Sep 17
Samsung, SK Hynix Import South Korean Workers as U.S. Chip Labor Gap Hits 157,000
1 articles · Updated · CNBC · Sep 17
Summary
Samsung and SK Hynix said they are temporarily bringing South Korean workers to help start up new U.S. chip facilities as domestic hiring falls short.
McKinsey and the SEMI Foundation project the U.S. semiconductor industry could be short as many as 157,000 workers by 2030, with only 3% of engineering graduates entering chip jobs and 73% of employers struggling to fill roles.
The shortage is colliding with a historic U.S. fab buildout tied to AI demand: Samsung plans to begin advanced logic production in Texas later this year, while TSMC, Intel, Micron and SK Hynix are also expanding.
Pay and training remain key constraints. U.S. chip salaries typically run from $127,000 to $187,000, below South Korea's top compensation, while companies and universities are pouring millions into semiconductor programs to build a domestic pipeline.