Equity is Critical to the STEMM Workforce of the Future
By Manish Bhatia, Executive Vice President of Global Operations, Micron Technology
The STEMM Opportunity Alliance (SOA) is built upon the understanding that equity in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) is essential for U.S. economic growth and competitiveness. Recent federal investments in STEMM and the centering of innovation and American leadership in policy debates present an unprecedented opportunity – and need – to transform the STEMM ecosystem.
The bipartisan CHIPS & Science Act, signed into law by President Biden, will generate thousands of new STEMM jobs across the country and provide a foundation for economic growth and drive prosperity for generations to come. Seizing these opportunities will require a top-notch workforce to meet the moment – a workforce that is built from initial federal investments in research and education for the semiconductor industry as outlined in the CHIPS & Science Act.
At Micron, we recognize that equity in STEMM is integral to our future success. We plan to invest up to $100 billion over the next twenty-plus years to build a leading-edge memory megafab in New York – the largest semiconductor project in the history of the United States. We also plan to invest $15 billion through the end of the decade to construct a manufacturing fab in Boise, co-located with our R&D center. Micron’s historic investments in leading-edge memory manufacturing in Idaho and New York will create over 67,000 U.S. jobs.
These investments demand talented engineers and technicians with diverse skill sets to manage and operate state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities and develop advanced engineering solutions. Meeting these needs will require traditional and nontraditional workforce development pathways.
Micron is committed to effective and creative workforce development solutions and partnerships that expand the workforce and make these careers more widely accessible, including to people of color, women, veterans, and rural communities. It is important that we see representation from all groups across our diverse workforce – we know that we can attract and retain the best talent by creating a diverse environment. The best ideas come from the best talent, and the best ideas win!
A vibrant semiconductor industry needs partnerships between academia and businesses that expand technology career pathways and create opportunities to support students from diverse communities. We know that we cannot solve workforce entrance barriers alone. Driving successful, coordinated, workforce development plans require input and guidance from on-the-ground stakeholders and academic experts.
Without expanding access to STEMM education and removing barriers throughout STEMM talent pathways, we will be unable to fill the thousands of critical STEMM-related jobs. The only way to do this is through the kind of cross-sector, multi-lateral coordination that SOA facilitates.
Micron is proud to work with the more than 100 STEMM Opportunity Alliance partners to build a workforce that is inclusive of historically underrepresented communities to sustain innovation and economic growth. We are looking forward to hosting a STEMM Opportunity Alliance convening in Boise, where we recently broke ground on a leading-edge microchip fab. On June 12th, we’ll bring together regional industry, government, and education leaders to discuss the role of corporations in creating equitable opportunities to learn STEMM. Through our work together, we will ensure that our U.S. workforce can meet the challenges of tomorrow.
Manish Bhatia is the Executive Vice President of Global Operations at Micron Technology. He is responsible for driving the vision and direction for Micron’s end-to-end operations.