The 2026 edition of the ECSA Skills Strategy updates the picture of the talent gap in the European semiconductor industry, drawing on the latest ECSA industry survey.
At first glance, the pressure seems to be easing: fewer organizations report a worsening skills shortage than last year (22%, down from 38%). But the survey shows this is mainly because companies are hiring less, not because more qualified candidates are entering the sector. Only 31% of respondents plan to increase hiring on EU soil in 2026 (36% in 2025), while 21% expect to hire less (14% in 2025). Experienced and cross-disciplinary profiles remain as scarce as before.
The structural drivers have not changed. 30% of the workforce is expected to retire between 2024 and 2030, while the number of graduates in semiconductor-related fields grows by only about 1% a year. The 2025 estimate of around 65,000 missing skilled workers by 2030, or roughly 10,800 per year, remains the reference figure.
This year’s report includes:
- Insights from 83 experts across 51 organizations in industry, research, and education;
- A first look at how AI is changing work and hiring: 84% of respondents say AI tools have changed their day-to-day work, and 22% have considered AI instead of recruiting for a specific role;
- An analysis of the most sought-after and hardest-to-fill profiles, with system designers, data specialists, analog designers, and cybersecurity experts topping the shortage list;
- The impact of geopolitical tensions and the EU Chips Act on recruitment;
- Updated short- and long-term policy and training recommendations, including a new focus on addressing AI’s impact on the workforce.
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