We Don't Need No Stinking Fab
In other
news, a recent report on semiconductor data (iSuppli
Corp) shows that in 2003, an estimated 75.1% of revenue from worldwide
fabless semiconductor industry was generated by American-based companies,
and 56.8% of the demand for those products originated in the Asia/Pacific
region. That region is the largest chip-consuming area in the world.
Including China, the Asia/Pacific region accounted for 39.9% of global
semicon sales in 2003. American-based semiconductor companies accounted
for 48.7% of worldwide chip revenues in the previous year, which means
the U.S. still dominates, though the margin is eroding. Reportedly,
hiring for semiconductor circuit designers in the U.S. is on the rise,
which is welcome news to those amongst the ranks of the 6.2% EE unemployed
here.
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