US semiconductor industry employs nearly 250,000 workers

November 5, 2012 – The US semiconductor industry now employs almost a quarter of a million workers and added jobs three times faster than the rest of the US economy, according to an analysis of government data by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). Total direct US semiconductor employment is estimated at 244,800.

"Semiconductor workers — a quarter of a million strong and growing — are creating the technology breakthroughs that improve our lives, strengthen our country, and build our future," stated Brian Toohey, SIA president and CEO. "Through their hard work, the US semiconductor industry continues to create jobs and spur growth despite a challenging national economy."

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the semiconductor industry’s manufacturing workforce grew by 3.7% over the previous year, while jobs throughout the broader US economy increased by 1.2%. (It’s worth mentioning that the nation’s employers added 171,000 positions in October, according to just-published data from the US Labor Department.)

All employment figures reflect recently-released 2011 BLS data. Total semiconductor employment data is based on the number of semiconductor employees in the US manufacturing sector as reported by BLS, plus an estimate for the number of semiconductor workers employed by semiconductor fabless firms, which BLS currently counts in the wholesale trade sector. More detailed information is available in the SIA’s Employment Issue Paper.

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One thought on “US semiconductor industry employs nearly 250,000 workers

  1. Mike Clayton

    Its now near end of 2014, wonder what the semi industry has created lately in JOB in US?
    Global Foundries in NY state seems like a winner for that region.
    And the many non-manufacturing design-only companies are larger in number, if smaller in headcount due to great automation of design, and outsourcing of manufacturing. So what’s the real total semi industry US employment?

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