Phoenix, TSMC apprenticeship program attracts White House attention
Phoenix is launching what's believed to be one of the nation’s first registered apprenticeship programs to support the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors.
The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, known as TSMC, is building two fabrication plants in north Phoenix. The company’s Brian Harrison said it will invest $5 million to train 80 facility technicians over five years.
“We intend to expand that curriculum to include manufacturing technicians, process engineering technicians and also equipment technicians,” he said.
Harrison compared the work by using an old car commercial analogy, "Our fabs and our equipment are not Oldsmobiles. They’re more like Formula One race cars, both cars, both mechanics or technicians work on them, but dramatically different skill set and training required."
TSMC will run the apprenticeship program with help from the city and the state’s apprenticeship office. More information can be found on TSMC’s jobs page and through Phoenix’s Community and Economic Development Department, which houses workforce initiatives.
The announcement came during a Jan. 25 visit by Biden administration officials touting workforce development programs, including apprenticeship partnerships between local unions and colleges.
“Phoenix has emerged as a center of investment for growing industries like semiconductor manufacturing and clean energy,” said Brendan Danaher, deputy assistant to President Joe Biden and deputy director for Labor, National Economic Council.
Phoenix is one of five U.S. cities the White House has designated as a workforce hub. The others are: Columbus, Ohio; Baltimore; Augusta, Georgia; and Pittsburgh.
The Arizona Community Foundation is working to create a $5 million philanthropic fund to support 1,500 non-traditional talent and underserved residents with training to enter in-demand jobs. Grants will be provided to organizations to provide services like transportation and child care to support workforce training and development.
