Even as sectors scaled back in 2020, the semiconductor industry blazed forward, with Singapore in the thick of things. Between April and September alone, there were more than 2,800 jobs and training opportunities for the taking, spanning the value chain from technical and innovation engineers, to process and operations roles, and global supply chain roles. Companies are continuing to hire aggressively into 2021, fueled by the acceleration of digitisation, disruptive new technologies, and cutting-edge devices from smartphones and wearable devices to driverless cars, all of which have semiconductors at their core.  As the global appetite for technologies like AI, IoT, and 5G grow, the only way for the sector – and those who join it – is up.

Ang Wee Seng

Executive Director, Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association

Semiconductors are everywhere from your smartphone, fridge, to your car – and they will only become more important as we develop the next generation of tech innovations such as autonomous vehicles, and a 5G-enabled ecosystem. And as Singapore’s semiconductor industry continues to grow, so will its need for talent, including in areas like R&D, manufacturing, and business strategy. We’ve seen some of that already – between April and September alone, there were more than 2,800 jobs and training opportunities on offer at 130 companies, across the full value chain from technical and innovation engineers, to process and operations roles, and global supply chain roles. As we continue to digitalise as a society, this is an industry that will continue to grow. As a global semiconductor hub, Singapore – and its young joiners – are well-positioned to capitalise on it.

Chips are tiny but their impact is massive. Working in the sector, the power behind some of the world’s biggest technology brands is literally in your hands.

EL Saravanan

Managing Director, Advanced Micro Devices Singapore

“Many young people join AMD as fresh graduates. We develop high-performance computing and visualisation products to solve some of the world’s toughest and most interesting challenges, and they play key roles in developing these next gen products. We firmly believe in setting up students for successful careers in semiconductors. Every year, we recruit between 40 to 50 students from local universities. What we do is tailor a series of courses for these interns, where they are taught by our own employees, giving them fundamental technical as well as crucial soft skills. There has never been a better time to be in the semiconductor industry. With the latest technological trends, from Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, to big data and industry 4.0, the semiconductor industry provides exciting opportunities for innovation and growth, and our young talents are critical to this.”

Cassandra Yeow

Product Development Engineer, ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Chemical Engineering, Newcastle University

“Having been on this journey for close to a year, one word that describes my experience is ‘Growth’. The opportunity to grow in my technical knowledge, project management, and personal development is limitless. I am currently involved in a significant project for a consumer product, my first in my role as a product development engineer. The scale of this project, which spans functional groups in Singapore, Zurich, and Austria means I have the opportunity to communicate and work together in a global team. I am constantly brushing up on my technical skills, with the support of my manager who paves the way for me to take on additional learning opportunities. My colleagues, too, are approachable and more than willing to share their technical knowledge. After all, we are in the business of technology innovation and improving human life – and this is an endless quest.”