Research Report
Unlocking the value of women in semiconductor
5-MINUTE READ
March 2, 2021
In brief
- Accenture and GSA partner on research to explore leading practices, identify areas of improvement and provide actions to boost gender diversity.
- The research identifies leading practices for recruitment, retention and career advancement, and points to the underrepresentation of women.
- Increased representation of women in the workforce drives better business outcomes for companies.
- The Gender Parity study measured the male and female representation in board and executive positions in public and private semiconductor companies.
The semiconductor industry has more recognition than ever due to global events such as the chip shortage, government initiatives including the CHIPS Act and the vital role semiconductor devices play in our everyday lives. Leading semiconductor companies have been placing big bets on domestic investment of semiconductor manufacturing. According to SEMI, Worldwide 300mm fab equipment investment is expected to increase 20% to US$116.5 billion in 2025 and 12% to US$130.5 billion in 2026 before hitting a record high in 2027.
This type of investment and the corresponding need to hire thousands of engineers and other technical workers amid a labor shortage represents a weighty opportunity to fill these roles with diverse talent. Specifically, it is an opportunity for women to fulfill these roles and a clear opportunity for companies to help narrow the existing and pervasive gender gap and unlock the value that women can provide.
The women in the semiconductor industry survey results 2023 from the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA), which highlights present-day leadership diversity (or lack thereof), shows that much work still needs to be done to help close the gender gap.
Gaining insight into the semiconductor industry
The GSA and Accenture study, “GSA: Women in Semiconductor Industry 2023,” was designed to help educate audiences on the current status along with practices to decrease the gender gap. To understand the current state of the women in the semiconductor industry, the GSA and Accenture conducted its annual survey of women in the semiconductor industry, interviewed industry executives and tapped into Accenture research to measure statistics on gender representation throughout all functions and ranks.
Exploring the survey
The survey focused on 3 key topics and offered supporting statistics and recommendations for changes in the areas of:
- Recruitment of women
- Retaining women in the semiconductor industry
- Advancing the careers of women
If we are going to become a trillion-dollar industry, we cannot ignore half the population.
— JODI SHELTON, Co-Founder & CEO of GSA
State of the Market
The need for innovation-focused talent in semiconductor is just as dire as the need for chips today, and women represent a significant opportunity to provide that talent. However, building a pipeline for recruitment continues to be the largest challenge. If companies can recruit, retain and advance more women to the industry, they will discover significant benefits.
Key Findings
1.
The median representation of women in the semiconductor industry lies in the 20% to 29% range.
2.
Networking and higher education are the top methods for increasing talent and expanding the talent pipeline.
3.
Over 50% of women spend five or more years before advancing to managerial roles.
4.
Women attrition rates have decreased according to 56% of respondents.
5.
Recognition and mentorship programs are prevalent, but sponsorship and allyship initiatives lag.
6.
54% of companies hold management accountable for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals, but few are formally measured.
The time has come for the industry to make significant progress and build a new-age model of gender diversity for generations to come. New technologies like generative AI will also impact ways of working, requiring leaders to set and guide a vision for reinventing work, reshaping the workforce and preparing workers for a generative AI world. Success requires putting people at the heart of change and it will mean leaders with different skills. This represents not only an opportunity for companies to unlock the value women can bring to their organizations, but it also helps women secure more jobs and rise through the ranks in ways that were not possible in the past.
Learn more about the report findings in the latest webinar: Rising Together: Exploring the Women in the Semiconductor Industry Survey Findings - Design The Solution.