Samsung Electronics and SK hynix started their respective recruitment procedures this week to hire massive numbers of semiconductor experts, amid a fierce competition for leadership in the rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI) chip market, according to industry officials, Thursday.

This is unusual for the two largest chipmakers in Korea to post job openings in July.

Their recent move has been interpreted as part of efforts to lead the market for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which has enjoyed rising global demand following the rapid growth of AI technologies.

Samsung’s device solutions (DS) division, which is in charge of its semiconductor business, announced on Wednesday that it will receive job applications until next Tuesday to hire around 800 experienced workers, who will work at the company’s facilities nationwide.

The recruitment came just five months after the DS division looked for a large number of skilled workers in February. This is also the first job opening posted under the leadership of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun, who was tasked in May with directing the conglomerate’s semiconductor business.

In addition, the tech giant recently combined its HBM development teams into one, in order to reinforce its research and development on AI chips.

Industry officials view that Samsung has been trying to secure semiconductor experts in advance, as optimism is growing about an 카지노사이트모음 upturn in the chip industry. The company’s second-quarter operating profit is expected to reach 8.6 trillion won ($6.2 billion), due to a recovery in its earnings from semiconductors.

“I am confident that we will be able to overcome the recent difficulties in a short period of time, if we continue communication and discussion,” Jun said in his inaugural address in May.

A day after Samsung posted its job opening, SK hynix announced that it will receive job applications from inexperienced applicants until July 12 and from experienced workers until July 15 to hire hundreds of new and skilled employees.

The recruitment drive came after the chipmaker hired experienced workers in April. The company also plans to post another job opening in September to hire those with two to four years of experience in the industry.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea’s semiconductor sector faced a shortage of 1,784 workers in 2022 and 1,621 workers in 2020. The Korea Semiconductor Industry Association expects the country’s chip industry to face a shortage of 54,000 workers in 2031.