It is an exciting time to be an equipment manufacturer in the European semiconductor industry. There is still a lot of buzz around the EU Chips Act and companies like Intel, TSMC, and GlobalFoundries & STMicroelectronics have announced huge investments in Europe over the next few years. However, Europe is already struggling to find skilled workers, which means talent shortage poses a significant challenge. As a smaller company situated on the outskirts of Munich, Germany, we are not immune to the impacts of this shortage. To tackle this workforce challenge as a community, we would like to share a couple of strategies we use to address talent scarcity.
Investing in the New Generation of Workforce
We recognize the importance of nurturing talent from the ground up, so ERS places a strong emphasis on recruiting students through comprehensive internship programs. Every year, ERS onboards 4-5 longer-term interns from various universities. We have worked with universities abroad in Vancouver, Dubai, and Paris, but are also focusing our efforts on building partnerships with universities here in Germany.
These internships go beyond the traditional coffee-fetching roles, providing hands-on experiences on real-world projects. By immersing students in our daily operations, we offer a unique opportunity for them to gain practical skills and a genuine feel for working at a company in the semiconductor industry. This approach not only allows us to identify and nurture potential long-term talents but also fosters a culture of innovation and creativity. As these students grow within the company, they become integral parts of our workforce, contributing to our success while simultaneously addressing the talent shortage.
In our commitment to investing in the new generation, we organize and participate in several events annually, extending invitations to school classes or smaller groups of pupils to explore our headquarters and production facilities. To effectively address the challenge of the global talent shortage over the longer term, it is crucial to expose young people to diverse career and job prospects within our industry.
Local Engagement and Brand-building
Understanding the importance of a strong local presence, our company actively engages with the community in different ways. We sponsor and collaborate with local organizations, for example, the local soccer and ice hockey teams. This fosters an awareness of our presence in the neighborhood and the exciting opportunities within our company and helps us create a positive brand image and tap into the local talent pool.
Since last year, we have also actively worked with the city council and other community actors on a campaign to promote the location as a business capital. This initiative goes beyond just finding talent, as it contributes to the overall economic development of the area.
Embracing a comprehensive strategy, these are some of the ways we have tackled the global talent shortage. By investing in students and young people, and actively engaging with the local community through collaborations with the city council and various stakeholders, we can quickly adapt to a rapidly growing industry.
