Austin tech construction is taking off. As tech talent awaits the construction of Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s new Austin-area plant, jobs tied to the facility’s construction are already in immediate demand.
Samsung’s Big Move
Last year, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced that it would build a new semiconductor manufacturing facility in Taylor, Texas. The location—just north of Austin—is expected to help boost the production of advanced logic semiconductor solutions that power next-generation innovations and technologies. It’s a massive boon to Austin tech construction, too.
“As we add a new facility in Taylor, Samsung is laying the groundwork for another important chapter in our future,” said Kinam Kim, Vice Chairman and CEO, Samsung Electronics Device Solutions Division. “With greater manufacturing capacity, we will be able to better serve the needs of our customers and contribute to the stability of the global semiconductor supply chain.”
According to the company’s official press release, the Taylor site is expected to serve as a critical location for Samsung’s global semiconductor manufacturing capacity along with its latest new production line in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. The $17 billion investment in Taylor is expected to add 2,000 direct jobs when it’s completed in 2024.
“We believe the new site in Taylor will bridge our 26-year history in Central Texas with a hopeful future full of possibility,” Samsung announced on its website. “Bringing new jobs and valuable training opportunities, our investment in Taylor—Samsung’s largest-ever in the U.S.— will build supply chain resilience of crucial logic chips while contributing to the development of the local community.”
What’s the Forecast for Austin Tech Construction?
The Austin tech construction scene isn’t new by any means, but it has recently been supercharged. Samsung has already been in the Austin area for more than 25 years. Apple, Amazon and more have been building and expanding recently, too. And you can’t forget the Tesla Gigafactory, an Austin tech construction marvel.
But here’s a bit of irony tying one Austin tech giant to another: Production of vehicles like Tesla’s has slowed thanks, in part, to a shortage of computer chips. It’s a problem that Samsung’s new build can help fix.
“With worldwide supply-chain disruptions, it is imperative that we bolster our domestic production capabilities,” says U.S. Senator to Texas John Cornyn. “I am pleased Samsung is expanding their operations to Williamson County, which will bring more good jobs to Central Texas as well as help combat the global semiconductor shortage.”
The effort, however, requires “all hands on deck.” Quite literally, at least in a recruiting and hiring sense. First comes staffing the build-out.
“During construction, we anticipate thousands of good-paying jobs…We also expect our partners and vendors to expand their workforce,” Samsung states.
The HT Group is part of the push to find qualified construction workers and support staff. Jobs range from experienced construction managers, architectural inspectors, QC engineers, and safety managers to qualified purchasing assistants, document controllers, and administrative assistants.
Job candidates bilingual in English and Korean are in particularly high demand. Why? The Texas plant will be built in close collaboration with those highly specialized and experienced in similar builds in the company’s home country of South Korea.
One could say the sky’s the limit for workers interested in Austin tech construction for years to come. As Samsung alluded to, its move brings a robust slate of partners and vendors, including industrial gas companies and other suppliers. Other high-tech builds are being considered, including a potential Applied Materials move into Hutto. CompTIA forecasts Austin will add 22,000 tech jobs in the next five years.
“And before software developers and other high-tech workers can fill Austin hallways, those hallways must be built,” says The HT Group Founder and CEO Mark Turpin.
The good news for employers and job seekers alike is that many high-tech construction jobs involve transferrable skills within the industry. As Bisnow points out, chip fabricators like Samsung often compete for the same tradespeople and contractors experienced in constructing other high-tech builds like data centers.
Want to know more about the Austin tech construction scene? Let’s chat! We want to help both employers and job seekers benefit from the big Austin tech construction boom.
