Tech firm Micron will be creating more jobs at its new expanded facility in Singapore, the company said yesterday during the launch of its latest semiconductor manufacturing extension in Woodlands.

The technology firm has already added 600 jobs this year with the new expansion and expects to add another 1,500 jobs for its Singapore operations over the next few years. As of now, the US-headquartered firm has about 8,000 employees on its rolls.

The firm has recently expanded its 3D NAND flash memory fabrication operations in Singapore. This expanded facility, also known as NAND Centre of Excellence, would bring together various functions – from technology development and product engineering to quality and manufacturing, to leverage on the company’s long-term investment in infrastructure and technical expertise in Singapore.

Going forward, Micron is also looking at hiring “talented, determined and highly-educated employees in the region” and will place continued focus on diversity and inclusion efforts, as well as hiring recent college graduates.

The firm established its Singapore presence in 1998 and has invested more than US$15 Bn (S$21 Bn) here over the years. A portion of the recent "multi-billion-dollar investment" in Singapore has gone into the facility, while the rest will go into more developments in the future, depending on market trends.

Micron’s investment is a further boost to the country’s semiconductor industry which as per Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat currently employs about 35,000 people. While currently, the industry is witnessing headwinds due to the global recession, yet recovery is expected when technologies like 5G come into play. Singapore accounts for 11 percent of the global market share for semiconductors and is home to more than 60 semiconductor companies.