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Hillsboro, Oregon, known for its thriving tech scene, is taking an innovative step to address the talent shortage in advanced manufacturing. The city, in a unique collaboration with Jireh Semiconductor and other local industry leaders, is launching Oregon's first registered youth apprenticeship in advanced manufacturing for high school students. This groundbreaking initiative, recently approved by the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries, is a beacon of opportunity for young aspirants in the semiconductor industry.
Traditionally, high school students are not the ones you find on the floors of semiconductor manufacturing facilities. However, with approximately 800 job openings in this sector in Hillsboro alone, a transformative change is underway. This change is being initiated at Century High School, where six pioneering students will embark on a journey that challenges the conventional academic path.
The Hillsboro Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship, as it's named, is not just a program but a pathway to promising careers in the semiconductor industry, currently experiencing a critical shortage of manufacturing technicians. Even Intel, Oregon’s largest private employer and a key player in the semiconductor world, has felt the pinch of this talent gap, prompting them to seek technicians through high-profile advertising.
Kristi Wilson, a city workforce development official, played a crucial role in developing this apprenticeship program. She points out the dire need for talent in this industry, a need that is only set to grow. While Intel and other companies are often associated with high-paying engineering roles, the significant contribution of factory technicians, often donned in protective bunny suits, is sometimes overlooked. These technicians are the backbone of the industry, intricately involved in producing the computer chips that are essential to our digital world.
For many students, especially the youngest ones, the route to such technical roles remains obscured. This apprenticeship aims to demystify that path. The selected 11th graders from Century High will continue their classroom education while gaining hands-on experience alongside mentors at Jireh Semiconductor and Tosoh Quartz. Starting at $16 an hour, these students will not only earn while they learn but will also have the opportunity to continue their employment post-graduation at a higher wage, or take their newfound skills elsewhere.
Jireh Semiconductor, one of the program's hosts, is set to welcome three apprentices. Lynn Nelson, the company's recruiting manager, emphasizes the importance of providing students with opportunities to explore diverse career paths, moving beyond the traditional emphasis on college education. He highlights the lucrative potential for technicians at Jireh, especially for those open to working non-traditional hours.
Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway and other officials have praised the program for creating a diverse talent pipeline and offering students a path to well-paying jobs. This apprenticeship is especially timely as the semiconductor industry in Oregon is poised for growth, fueled by federal investment through the CHIPS and Science Act.
Despite its promising start, the program currently has its limitations. It's exclusively available to students at Century High who are enrolled in a specific career and technical education program, with plans to expand to other high schools in Hillsboro. The first cohort is entirely male, but program officials, including Claudia Rizo, the school district’s youth apprenticeship project manager, are committed to diversifying future cohorts. This includes actively recruiting young women, particularly as they transition from middle to high school, to ensure representation in a field where they have been traditionally underrepresented.
As this apprenticeship program takes off, it not only opens doors for the youth of Hillsboro but also serves as a model for integrating practical, industry-led training into high school education, preparing students for a future in the high-demand field of advanced manufacturing.
