Malaysia Faces Urgent Need for 60,000 Engineers to Drive Semiconductor Growth

Malaysia is facing a critical shortage of engineers as it aims to boost its semiconductor industry, which is vital for the country’s economic growth. The country needs an additional 60,000 engineers to meet its semiconductor goals, including increasing its global market share from 7% to 15% by 2030 and doubling output to RM1.2 trillion.

Salleh Ahmad, a microelectronics expert, has returned to Malaysia to help address this gap. He is now the Chief Technology Officer at Weeroc, a microchip manufacturer based in the new Integrated Circuit (IC) Design Park in Puchong, Selangor. Salleh cites Malaysia’s bright industry prospects, government incentives, and low business costs as key reasons for his return.

Urgent need for engineers

The government’s strategy involves the “three Rs”: recruit new talent, retain existing professionals, and encourage those working abroad to return. The Puchong IC hub, recently opened, aims to employ 400 local engineers, with 60 already hired by initial tenants. Companies like MaiStorage are bringing back Malaysians from overseas to help with local talent development.

Penang is also a significant player in this effort, with over 30 IC design companies, 28 of which are based there. Penang is launching “Penang Silicon Design @5km+” to attract and upskill engineers. Major industry players like Infineon Technologies are working to retain talent with low attrition rates.

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