All About the SEMI Foundation and Workforce Development

February 19, 2025 byCharlotte Davies

4 min to read

Student in a striped shirt working on coding a robot for her STEM class at Connections Academy

As students become high schoolers and plans for after graduation start to take shape, mapping out their careers and goals for the future becomes more important than ever.

Many students may want to pursue a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) as those careers offer high rates of growth and are rapidly evolving. A career in the semiconductor industry, for example, is expected to grow just over 10% in the coming years, and for students hoping to pursue careers in STEM, developing their skills early with the SEMI Foundation could help them get a head start on their future.

What is the SEMI Foundation?

The SEMI Foundation is the nonprofit sector of microelectronics trade association SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International) and was created to help people train for careers in the quickly growing semiconductor industry.

In its 20+ year history, the foundation has worked to create pathways and opportunities for job seekers, develop experiential STEM programs for high school students, and launch new programs and partnerships dedicated to diversity and cultivating a sense of belonging within the microelectronics field.

“We want to meet our students where they are, whether they want to attend college or go immediately into the labor market,” said Pearson Virtual Schools VP for Careers, Casey Welch. “The Home Depot’s Path to Pro program is a great fit because it is all about providing high school students early pathways to training and education in rewarding fields.”

Beyond courses, the program enables Connections Academy students, ages 16 or older, to join a network of established skilled trade professionals, as well as receive career guidance on crafting resumes and building interview-readiness skills. Better still, when students turn 18, they can also upload their resume, showcase their skills, and even apply for real-world projects, apprenticeships, and jobs.

The Future of Work in STEM

As an authority in the semiconductor design, manufacturing, and supply chain process, SEMI is actively invested in a variety of Smart Initiatives for technology and applications. These initiatives help them remain on the cutting edge of emerging tech. Due to the projected growth of these industries and increasing demand for things like phones, smart watches and cars, and medical equipment, the demand for well-trained engineers, computer scientists, and technicians is expected to rise as well.

Parents of students thinking about a career in STEM will have ample opportunity to work toward a career that matches with their career ambitions and their interests; however, careers in microelectronics go far beyond STEM—careers for designers, project managers, and product managers will also be needed and will require people with creative, organizational, and collaborative skills of all kinds.

Preparing Students for Their Futures

Explore how Connections Academy can help online high schoolers with career exploration and important professional skills through our Career Readiness offerings. 