Key Takeaways from Matt Gertken, PhD (BCA Research) at SEMI ISS By Damian Scandiffio One of the most valuable sessions at SEMI ISS last month wasn’t about a single country, conflict, or policy headline. It was about something bigger: how the global system is changing underneath all of them. Matt Gertken’s geopolitical outlook for 2026…
Key takeaways from Duncan Meldrum, Chief Economist, Hilltop Economics at SEMI ISS. The semiconductor industry is thriving, but it’s propping up an economy on shaky ground. That was the core message from Duncan Meldrum’s presentation on the 2026 economic outlook and semiconductor risks at SEMI ISS this year. While most sessions focused on nodes, tools,…
What the Industry Is Signaling Earlier in January, I had the pleasure of again attending the annual SEMI ISS event to get a pulse on industry happenings. During my time there, a remarkably consistent narrative emerged: The semiconductor industry is entering a structurally different era, defined not by scaling transistors, but by scaling how intelligently…
Despite a challenging 2025 due to policy changes, the renewable energy industry still dominated U.S. capacity growth, accounting for 93 percent of additions through September 2025. As it looks ahead to 2026, it expects to attract investor capital through strategic changes, including shifts to safe-harbor projects and improved efficiencies to minimize rising costs. This means…
The cleantech industry continues its strong recovery trajectory, with the energy sector now employing 8.5 million workers in 2024, accounting for 5.4% of all U.S. jobs. Since 2020, the clean energy sector has added more than 520,000 new jobs, reflecting strong momentum. The sector’s growth shows no signs of slowing, thanks to several key factors….
The manufacturing industry faces a critical challenge: traditional resume-based hiring isn’t working. More than 65% of manufacturing companies listed recruitment and retention as their top business challenge in 2024, according to a Manufacturing Institute survey. Enter AI-powered skills-based recruitment: a game-changing method that focuses on what candidates can actually do, not just their job history….
Job hugging is the latest trend to sweep the nation’s workforce. While still relatively new, the movement has grown rapidly across industries, and employers need to pay attention if they hope to adapt to a shifting labor market. In many cases, job hugging may make hiring more challenging. At the same time, it offers some…
It’s been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the workforce, but the U.S. is still seeing a talent shortage as the demand for workers exceeds the working population. According to SHRM Business, the U.S. labor market has consistently had more job openings than unemployed workers since March 2018. So what’s causing this labor…
Phoenix, Arizona, is at a pivotal point in its economic development, particularly in the advanced manufacturing sector. As the city evolves into a hub for semiconductors, renewable energy, and aerospace industries, it faces several challenges in workforce development. These challenges stem from both the rapid expansion of manufacturing jobs and the need for a highly…
As Canada’s job market evolves amid economic uncertainties and increasing competition for talent, data-driven recruitment has become a key strategy for improving hiring outcomes. In 2025, the emphasis on data and metrics in hiring is expected to continue growing, helping organizations streamline processes, reduce turnover, and boost efficiency. Here’s a look at the key trends…
