Micron & CWI collaborate to provide capability development….
The Micron Registered Apprenticeship Program combines classroom education with practical industry experience.
The College of Western Idaho is expanding its mechatronics program as Idaho positions itself at the center of a nationwide effort to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The push comes as demand for skilled chipmaking workers continues to rise, creating an urgent need for trained technicians across the state.
Boise-based Micron Technology is leading much of that growth. The semiconductor manufacturer expects to hire roughly 200 technicians for its new Boise fabrication plants scheduled to open in 2027. To help fill those roles, Micron partnered with the College of Western Idaho on a two-year apprenticeship program that has already trained about 50 technicians. Still, the company will need many more workers as production facilities move closer to launch.
The workforce challenge stretches beyond Micron alone. According to projections from the Idaho Department of Labor, semiconductor employers statewide will require approximately 138 technicians annually to meet both new hiring demands and employee turnover.
To keep pace, CWI has rapidly increased the size of its mechatronics program. Enrollment has climbed from just 16 students per semester in 2022 to around 40 students in 2026.
The Micron Registered Apprenticeship Program combines classroom education with practical industry experience. Students begin by learning core mechatronics concepts at CWI before transitioning to hands-on training at Micron facilities. Apprentices are paid during the program and are typically hired into full-time technician positions after graduation.
Technicians play a critical role in semiconductor production, working alongside engineers inside highly controlled cleanroom environments. Dressed in protective coveralls, they handle sensitive silicon wafers and help operate the advanced equipment used to etch intricate circuits onto computer chips. Precision is essential, as even dust particles or unnecessary movement can interfere with manufacturing.
Despite strong job prospects, attracting students into the field remains difficult. The Boise School District shut down its own mechatronics program last year after declining enrollment, highlighting ongoing challenges in building an early talent pipeline. Still, some students are drawn to the hands-on nature of the work. “I get to build stuff. It’s pretty fun,” said CWI sophomore Luke Lindsay, who hopes to join Micron after graduation.
Micron is not alone in facing labor shortages tied to America’s semiconductor expansion. In Arizona, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has encountered hiring difficulties while constructing a major chip facility, even bringing in workers from Taiwan to help meet project deadlines.
To widen the talent pool, Micron has increased recruitment efforts aimed at veterans and people with technical experience in industrial or control-based environments. The company, founded 47 years ago in the basement of a Boise dentist’s office, is now investing approximately $50 billion into its Boise campus. Massive fabrication plants are rising across the site, where thousands of contractors are preparing facilities that will eventually house cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing operations.
Many of the available positions are technician roles that require specialized two-year degrees rather than traditional four-year engineering programs. That reality makes workforce initiatives like CWI’s mechatronics pathway increasingly important as Idaho works to support the next generation of semiconductor manufacturing in the United States.
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