Beyond Awareness™
A Connected Workforce Journey
The SEMI Foundation developed Beyond Awareness™ to help industry, education, workforce, and community partners better understand how people discover, explore, and ultimately enter semiconductor careers.
Awareness Alone Does Not Build a Workforce
Millions of students, workers, and families are exposed to STEM and advanced manufacturing every year. Yet only a fraction ultimately pursue pathways into semiconductor and microelectronics careers.
The challenge is not simply awareness. The challenge is progression.
Too often, individuals encounter disconnected experiences with no clear next step. Interest is created, but momentum is lost. Beyond Awareness™ was developed to help strengthen the journey from initial exposure to workforce participation through more intentional engagement, stronger handoffs, and coordinated ecosystem support.
From Awareness to Action
Beyond Awareness™ views workforce development as a connected journey rather than a single event or program.
Our framework focuses on how individuals move through stages of engagement, where momentum is gained, and where barriers often emerge.
Rather than measuring success only by exposure, Beyond Awareness™ emphasizes progression toward meaningful workforce outcomes.
A Connected Workforce Journey
1
Spark (Awareness)
First meaningful exposure to semiconductors—what they power, why they matter, and where careers exist across the ecosystem.
2
Connect (Curiosity)
Learners begin to personalize the opportunity, connecting the industry to their interests, goals, and future.
3
Activate (Interest)
Low-barrier entry points invite action and make first-time participation approachable, engaging, and achievable.
4
Engage (Exploration)
Hands-on exposure and real-world experiences build confidence, skills, and direction.
5
Illuminate (Pathway Exposure)
Learners gain visibility into credible routes into the workforce, including credentials, training, apprenticeships, degrees, and entry-level roles.
6
Commit (Commitment)
With clearer information and stronger support, individuals choose a pathway and move toward a defined career outcome.
7
Build (Participation)
Talent enters training, internships, or work-based learning experiences and progresses toward job readiness.
8
Enter (Workforce Entry)
Individuals transition into semiconductor careers with the skills, momentum, and support to contribute and advance.
Built to Align the Ecosystem
Beyond Awareness™ is designed to support collaboration across industry, education, workforce systems, government, and community organizations. The framework helps partners:
Better Understand Workforce Progression
Identify Gaps in the Talent Pipeline
Strengthen Transitions Between Programs and Experiences
Align Initiatives Around Shared Workforce Outcomes
Create Clearer Pathways into Semiconductor Careers
Looking Beyond Participation Metrics
Traditional workforce and outreach efforts often focus primarily on attendance or participation numbers.
The goal is not simply exposure. The goal is workforce momentum.
Beyond Awareness™ encourages a broader view of success by examining indicators such as:
Continued engagement
Career exploration behaviors
Enrollment in education or training pathways
Credential attainment
Workforce participation
Employer connection and placement opportunities
Strengthening Pathways Into Semiconductor Careers
The semiconductor industry requires scalable workforce solutions capable of connecting more individuals to high-quality careers.
Beyond Awareness™ helps organizations design workforce strategies that are more connected, measurable, and aligned with long-term industry demand.
By strengthening progression across the talent journey, the SEMI Foundation is helping build workforce pathways designed for the future of microelectronics.
Explore the Beyond Awareness™ Approach
Interested in learning how Beyond Awareness™ can support workforce strategy, education initiatives, or ecosystem collaboration?