America’s Chip Factory Crisis: The Need for More Male Engineers

As massive semiconductor factories rise in the desert around Phoenix, the United States faces a critical challenge: a severe shortage of engineers to staff these facilities. President Biden’s ambitious plan to revive American semiconductor manufacturing, supported by $53 billion in funding, is at risk because of this workforce gap. Industry leaders are already indicating that they may need to import engineers from Taiwan and other countries to meet demand.

The crux of the problem lies in the gender disparity within engineering fields. Males constitute 88% of all engineers in the industry, yet American colleges are producing too few male graduates to fill these roles. Despite the high demand for a college degree to secure a decent standard of living and bolster economic prosperity, colleges have failed to admit and retain enough male students. Since 2012, male college enrollment has plummeted, accounting for 83% of the overall 1.2 million drop in college students.

The situation is dire: even if all U.S. engineering graduates were funneled into semiconductor factories, it still wouldn’t suffice to meet the industry’s needs. This shortage has led companies to look overseas for qualified professionals, intensifying the competition for talent and delaying factory openings.

If the semiconductor sector does not become more attractive, the resulting talent gap for engineers will be massive: more than 100,000 each in the United States and Europe and upward of 200,000 in Asia–Pacific (excluding China). And since the number of new graduates hasn’t kept pace with job openings, the industry faces increasing demand for talent.

The solution to this problem is straightforward: admit and graduate more smart American boys. There is no lack of potential candidates. An estimated 20 million men aged 20-40 in the U.S. still seek a four-year college degree. Current college enrollment data across the nation show for every 100 girls who enroll in college, only 70 boys do. By making concerted efforts to re-engage these young men and support their educational journeys, colleges can address both the enrollment crisis and the engineering workforce shortage.

To prepare enough Americans to run the semiconductor industry, the United States must expand its educational and training programs. This includes enhancing community college training, high school vocational programs, and apprenticeships. Institutions need to focus on creating supportive environments and targeted outreach to attract and retain male students.

Ultimately, rebuilding America’s semiconductor industry depends not only on financial investments but also on strategic educational reforms. By admitting and graduating more American boys, colleges can ensure a robust talent pipeline to sustain the growth of critical manufacturing sectors and secure the nation’s technological future.