In the nearly two years since President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law with the aim of revitalizing the American semiconductor industry, the topline numbers have been impressive. So far, the Commerce Department has announced nearly $30 billion in grants and an additional $25 billion in loans to leading chip manufacturers, along with generous tax breaks to give the sector an extra boost. That’s attracted a staggering $450 billion in private investment, and the development of major new factories from Ohio to Arizona.
But experts tell Fortune that as the CHIPS Act enters a new phase and planned projects start to become operational, they’re bracing for a major hurdle: Factories don’t have enough qualified workers to staff them.
