[Semiconductor Workforce Shortage] Paying More and Expanding Benefits... Talent Acquisition Battle

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[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] "The movement of semiconductor specialists between Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix has now become a common occurrence. This is evidence of the shortage of semiconductor experts in Korea."

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the two major pillars of the domestic semiconductor industry, are suffering from a deepening shortage of specialized personnel. As the global semiconductor labor shortage intensifies, attracting overseas talent is also challenging, leading these companies to invest heavily in funds to offer better compensation than their competitors. However, since fundamental solutions such as nurturing specialized talent have not emerged, the competition to prevent personnel movement between companies is expected to accelerate further.

According to the semiconductor industry on the 19th, SK Hynix is currently conducting a 'Junior Talent' recruitment process for candidates with less than five years of experience, and it has been confirmed that a significant number of Samsung Electronics semiconductor employees are preparing for SK Hynix interviews. On the anonymous workplace community 'Blind,' questions about SK Hynix's working environment, commuting methods, and compensation and welfare levels are pouring in ahead of SK Hynix's recruitment interview schedule from Samsung Electronics employees.

An industry insider said, "The movement of personnel between Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix has already become a common sight," adding, "Especially recently, with SK Hynix's performance bonuses and welfare levels becoming an issue, a mood has formed among the MZ (Millennial + Generation Z) generation to compare the two companies and consider changing jobs."

In a situation where the hegemony war among major countries over the semiconductor industry is intensifying, the shortage of specialized talent pools has created an environment where personnel movement between companies in the semiconductor sector is inevitably active.

According to the '2021 Industrial Technology Workforce Supply and Demand Survey' released by the Korea Institute for Industrial Technology Promotion, as of the end of 2020, the number of workers engaged in the semiconductor industry was 179,885. Among them, 99,285 are industrial technology personnel responsible for research and development, technology, and production in companies, which is a 4% increase compared to 2019.

While the growth rate of semiconductor industrial technology personnel was in the 2% range for two consecutive years in 2018 and 2019, it rose to 4% in 2020, but the industry still complains about a shortage of necessary personnel. The Institute estimates the shortage of industrial technology personnel in the semiconductor industry to be about 1,621. Among the 12 major industries, the semiconductor industry's industrial technology personnel demand growth rate is the highest at 9.5%.

An industry insider said, "This is also a very conservative estimate," adding, "The actual shortage of specialized personnel felt in the industry is much more severe than what is perceived externally."

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