ASML plans to offer eligible employees a €20,000 ($22,838) retention bonus if they remain with the Dutch semiconductor equipment maker between 2027 and 2030, as the company intensifies efforts to retain highly skilled talent amid a global shortage of semiconductor professionals. The initiative will be structured as a conditional stock grant beginning on January 1, 2027, with the final terms still being finalized, Reuters news report said.
The latest Deloitte report indicated that the global semiconductor industry will require more than 1 million additional skilled workers by 2030, or over 100,000 new workers annually, to meet demand.
The Deloitte–SEMI Workforce Development Survey indicated that 77 percent of executives said the semiconductor industry already faces a critical talent shortage, while another 14 percent expected a severe shortage within three years.
The retention program comes as ASML continues to benefit from robust demand for its advanced lithography systems, which are essential for manufacturing chips used in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and advanced electronics.
ASML plans to increase production capacity for its Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems by 30 percent in 2027, with the possibility of another expansion in 2028.
The company recently reported net income of €2.92 billion, while demand remains so strong that its most advanced lithography machines are almost fully booked through 2027. ASML raised its 2026 revenue outlook to €43 billion–€45 billion, highlighting that AI infrastructure investments continue to fuel strong demand for advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
ASML employs approximately 44,500 people worldwide, including more than half of its workforce in the Netherlands and around 8,500 employees in the United States. The company said the retention incentive will be available to all eligible employees, highlighting its commitment to maintaining a stable workforce during a period of intense competition for semiconductor engineering talent.
The move reflects a trend across the global semiconductor industry, where leading companies such as Samsung Electronics, TSMC, and SK Hynix are enhancing employee compensation and retention programs as strong earnings coincide with persistent shortages of experienced engineers and technical specialists.
Samsung Electronics approved a compensation agreement under which 10.5 percent of its semiconductor division’s operating profit will be allocated to employee bonuses. All chip employees will receive a regular cash bonus equal to 50 percent of annual salary, while some memory-chip employees could receive payouts of up to $416,000. The agreement followed an 18-day strike threat involving around 48,000 workers, with 74 percent of 62,616 voting employees approving the deal.
SK Hynix set a new benchmark for employee rewards after its AI memory chip business generated record earnings. The company previously introduced a profit-sharing structure that delivered bonuses of up to $477,000 for some employees, creating pressure on Samsung to narrow the compensation gap and improve retention of skilled semiconductor engineers. The company’s generous payouts have become a key reference point for talent retention across South Korea’s chip industry.
TSMC has also strengthened employee compensation through higher profit-sharing and performance bonuses as it expands advanced chip manufacturing in Taiwan, the United States, Japan, and Europe. While Reuters did not disclose a specific bonus amount comparable to Samsung or SK Hynix, TSMC’s sustained profitability and global expansion have enabled the company to increase employee rewards and remain competitive in attracting and retaining semiconductor talent amid the AI infrastructure boom.
ASML’s latest incentive underscores how securing skilled workers has become as strategically important as expanding manufacturing capacity in the race to meet growing global demand for AI and advanced semiconductor technologies.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH
