Toshiba and Sony prepare for engineer shortage

• Japan is spending more on semiconductors after Covid-19 shortages.
• In 10 years, 8 large firms will require 35,000 engineers.
• The U.S. trade war hurt Japan.

Toshiba and Sony fear that a scarcity of engineers threatens the government’s efforts to resuscitate Japan’s chip sector.

Japan is spending more on semiconductors after Covid-19 shortages.

Five years until 2030 are “Japan’s final and biggest opportunity to restore its feet,” an industry body says.

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The Japan Electronics and IT Industries Association stated chip plant knowledge was crucial. In 10 years, 8 large firms will require 35,000 engineers.

Professor Hideki Wakabayashi, leader of JEITA’s policy proposal task force, said engineers are needed most.

In the late 1980s, Japanese semiconductor businesses invested substantially to enhance output, capturing half the worldwide market. The U.S. trade war hurt Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Toyooki Mitsui, manager at Kioxia and JEITA task group member, stated semiconductor students join banking or IT organisations.

Toshiba, Sony, and others promote innovation and employment by investing more in semiconductors.

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Biden and Kishida promised to boost semiconductor production last month.

Flowering. Western Digital and Kioxia are investing $1bn in a central Japan facility launching in September and $1bn in a northern Japan factory opening next year.

Renesas Electronics will spend $90bn to rebuild a 2014-closed facility to create more EV power semiconductors.

Kazuma Inoue, a recruiter, said Japan lacked investment and employment until the mid-2010s.

Unemployed. 25-44-year-olds working in electronics will drop from 380,000 in 2010 to 240,000 in 2021.

Toshiba’s Takashi Miyamori believes most Japanese students are interested in IT, not semiconductors.

He continued, “We must compete globally for good engineers.”