📊Executive Summary

As demand for AI semiconductors surges, SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics are intensifying efforts to secure talent and critical equipment ahead of new fab launches planned for 2028-2029. SK Hynix is focusing on recruiting High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) design engineers, with a significant portion of its hiring dedicated to HBM roles. Meanwhile, Samsung is ramping up its workforce at its Taylor, Texas foundry, dispatching expatriate employees and recruiting local talent. The competition for essential equipment, particularly ASML's EUV lithography machines, is also increasing, with South Korea's semiconductor manufacturing equipment imports rising significantly. These developments indicate a pressing need for procurement teams to monitor talent acquisition and equipment availability closely....