Online information source for semiconductor professionals

TechAmerica, the result of the merging of AeA and the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), has released its 12th annual Cyberstates report, which includes a first-ever supplement giving a breakdown of 3Q08 and 4Q08 in tech employment.  The high-tech industry added 77,000 nets jobs for 2008, bringing a total of 382,900 jobs over the last four years and 5.9 million workers worldwide. Read more >>

Agilent Technologies, Inc. announced it would renovate its Electronic Measurement businesses in response to the current economic crisis.  While the company expects 2009 numbers to be down 30% from the previous year, Agilent is also preparing for the lowest level in the company’s 10-year history, with revenue in the Semiconductor & Board Test Segment calculated to be down 50% since 2008 and 65% off from its peak volume.  Read more >>

Colorado-based FRAM supplier Ramtron International Corporation has joined the fray of semiconductor companies cutting jobs and reducing salaries in an attempt to reduce costs and remain competitive in the ailing market. The company plans to lay off 17% of its workforce and reduce the salaries of the remaining 102 staff by between 5 and 12%, thereby reducing its 2009 expenses by approximately $5.1 million. Read more >>

Cymer, a company that manufactures complex lasers used in semiconductor production, plans to eliminate 130 more workers globally, making this its third major layoff since November of 2008.  The company, which has already dropped 38% of its workers, will cut about 120 of the workers from its San Diego headquarters.  Read more >>

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. has announced it is reducing its global workforce by 330 people (22%) and reducing management and executive officer salaries by an additional 5%, totaling 15% overall beginning in April.  Read more >>

National Semiconductor Corp. announced sales of US$292 million for fiscal 3Q09, down 31% from 2Q09 and down 36% from 3Q08, which grossed US$453 million.  This quarter’s earnings per diluted share also decreased from 3Q08, going from 29 cents to 9 cents in 3Q09, or a net income of US$21.1 million. Read more >>

Due to global financial problems, Advantest Corp. is expecting to lose at least 21% of its job force.  The Japan-based company that is responsible for electronic measuring equipment and semiconductor test systems is also expecting loss of ¥78 billion, or US$805.7 million. 

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New cost cutting measures have been announced by Camtek that include the loss of an additional 68 employees or approximately 14% of its global workforce. The optical inspection specialist noted the continuing slowdown in its markets as the reason to implement the latest cost reductions. Read more >>

Chartered Semiconductor is to further reduce its workforce as the Singapore based foundry struggles to control losses as fab utilization rates fall rapidly. The foundry said it would axe 600 workers, bringing the total headcount reduction first instigated in the third quarter of 2008, to 1,300 or approximately 18 percent of the total workforce. Read more >>

Following losses in the fourth quarter of 2008 of approximately US$1.5 billion, NEC Corp is to reduce its global workforce by 20,000 or approximately 7% of its total headcount. Approximately 10,000 temporary and contract workers will lose their jobs in the cost cutting exercise. The other 10,000 job losses come from NEC’s 150,000 permanent workforce. Read more >>