As emerging technologies spur growth throughout the semiconductor industry, there’s likely to be increasing
demand and career opportunities for talented semiconductor engineers.
In fact, the latest figures show that
there are currently more technical and engineering jobs available than people to do them - KMPG’s 2019
Semiconductor Report found that almost two-thirds (64%) of respondents cited talent risk as one of the top three
threats to their organisation’s growth.
From the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), to the roll out of 5G networks,
and the increasing investment in R&D across the sector, it’s an exciting time to be a semiconductor engineer.
And with employers forced to compete for the best talent, there can be some very attractive salary and benefits
packages on offer for top candidates, along with fantastic opportunities for progression up the ladder.
What are the key factors driving industry growth?
Semiconductors are the backbone of today’s digital world; they are the building blocks of countless electronic
products. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to stay digitally connected and enjoy the technology that make our
lives easier. Today, there are around 26 billion connected devices worldwide, and with this number expected to
triple by 2025, emerging technologies will continue to increase the demand for semiconductor and
microelectronic jobs. Emerging technologies in the wireless communications sector, for example - from the
ongoing roll out of 5G networks to autonomous vehicle applications - will continue to drive revenue for
semiconductor companies. Stephen Mcrath, Senior Consultant says “With the introduction of 5G and new
mobile/electronic systems, we’re a surge in demand for candidates who are skilled in those markets, to develop
the products which will go into market in the next 12 months. Candidates who are willing to relocate for a role
will have their pick of the best opportunities. We advise candidates to go where the opportunities are in order to
progress your career. If you’re prepared to relocate, the company will offer you incredible career progression if
you move with them.”
Businesses in countless industries are implementing data-driven technology across their organisations to
accelerate, automate, and improve decision making and business processes. The global growth in Artificial
Intelligence is set to be a huge driver for the semiconductor sector; according to research from McKinsey, AI related semiconductors will see 18 percent growth annually over the next few years, which is five times more
than the rate for semiconductors used in non-AI based applications. We can also look to the technology stack to
understand AI’s role in the opportunities being created for semiconductor companies. The technology stack used for AI applications comprises nine layers which enable the two activities that power AI systems; training and
interface. When working on ways to improve training and interface, developers often encounter obstacles related
to the hardware layer of the stack, which includes storage, memory and networking. Semiconductor companies
can deliver solutions through the use of innovative accelerator architectures, to enable the transfer of large data
sets through memory or to increase computational efficiency – creating huge opportunities in their business for
revenue growth and expansion.
While hardware remains a differentiator in AI, semiconductor companies can continue to expect sustained
demand for their chips. Cognitive computing and machine learning, which involve the processing and analysis of
huge volumes of unstructured data, require significant processing power - and only cutting-edge chips will be
able to power the high-performance computing that the next wave of AI technology will require. Additionally, the
surge in emerging technologies is spurring many chip manufacturers to develop new and improved products and
solutions, and the most innovative growing business will need to hire and retain the best design and
development engineers if they are not to miss out.
What are the most in-demand semiconductor job skills?
In the current market, there are a finite number of innovators with the right skills sets to design and deploy novel
technologies, and competition for the best talent remains fierce. At a critical stage in its growth, the industry is
threatened by a shortage in core skills and talent. Candidates with expertise in photonics, lasers, electronics and
physics are in particularly high demand, and there are also strong opportunities in a range of production and
assembly roles within the sector. Aside from the necessary technical skills, possessing certain soft skills such as
critical thinking, communication and problem solving, along with remaining abreast of the latest industry
developments, can give you an edge over other candidates.
With so much change and innovation happening in the semiconductor and electronics sectors, now could be the
ideal time to progress your semiconductor engineering career. As industry experts we’re perfectly positioned to
find the right roles. To find your next role, or for help with your semiconductor engineering career or hiring needs
contact us.
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