As Japan seeks to revive its semiconductor industry, Vietnamese professionals are emerging as a key solution to the country’s growing workforce shortage in this critical sector.

Japan's semiconductor industry once flourished from the 1970s through the 1990s. At its peak, semiconductor production value in Kyushu - known as Japan’s "Silicon Island" - reached a record 1.39 trillion yen in 2000.

However, competition from South Korean manufacturers and the cyclical nature of the industry led to a sharp decline.

To reclaim its position in the global semiconductor market, the Japanese government has launched an ambitious revival strategy aimed at tripling domestic semiconductor industry revenue from 5 trillion yen in 2020 to 15 trillion yen by 2030.

The strategy unfolds in three phases: first, securing domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities for AI and IoT applications; second, deepening partnerships with the United States to develop next-generation chip technology; and third, commercializing future innovations through global cooperation.

Over the past three years, Japan has allocated an initial budget of 4 trillion yen to revitalize the semiconductor industry.

This investment has yielded early signs of success, with Kyushu’s semiconductor production value surpassing 1 trillion yen in 2023 for the first time in 16 years.

From 2024 to 2030, government funding for the sector is expected to rise to 10 trillion yen, reinforcing Japan’s semiconductor ambitions.

Despite these efforts, the industry faces a pressing challenge: a shortage of skilled workers. According to Ataguchi, a representative from the Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade, and Industry, the region is experiencing a surge in semiconductor investment, with projected equipment investments reaching 6.2 trillion yen over the next decade.

However, the industry struggles to attract Japanese students due to limited information and hands-on training opportunities, leading to an expected workforce gap.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry predicts that Kyushu alone will face an annual shortfall of 1,000 semiconductor professionals until at least 2032. Key shortages include production operators, manufacturing engineers, and research and development specialists.

To address this, Japanese companies, educational institutions, and government agencies are seeking to diversify their workforce, with Vietnam emerging as a prime partner.

Delegations of Japanese businesses have recently visited Vietnam to explore collaboration opportunities in semiconductor workforce development.

Companies require professionals with strong foundational knowledge in electronics, electrical engineering, IT, mechanical engineering, chemistry, materials science, finance, and business. For research and development roles, programming expertise and materials engineering skills are particularly valued.

According to Ishikawa Isamu, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam, Kyushu’s semiconductor industry is entering a phase of rapid expansion, accounting for more than half of Japan’s total integrated circuit production value.

He believes that collaboration between Japan and Vietnam in semiconductor workforce training will be mutually beneficial, given Vietnam’s strong technical talent pool and Japan’s advanced semiconductor industry.

Trong Dat