Intel is Critical to Chandler’s Success. What to Know About The Semiconductor Employer

Article originally posted on AZ Central on November 3, 2023

The success of Chandler’s economy hinges on the presence of Intel, a company that creates the bulk of the city’s jobs and generates massive amounts of financial activity within Chandler’s borders.

But how did the city become so dependent on Intel, and what does that relationship look like today?

Intel is the world’s second-largest producer of semiconductor chips, which are basically tiny brains that help power everything from cellphones to air conditioners.

It set up shop in Chandler in 1980 and the city has since become home to Intel’s only two large-scale facilities in Arizona. The company employs thousands and generates nearly $9 billion in statewide economic impact each year.

It’s now spending $20 billion to expand one of its Chandler facilities. It will make the local campus Intel’s largest manufacturing complex anywhere on earth at a time when the world needs a secure supply of chips more than ever.

The Arizona Republic looked into some of the most asked questions about Intel’s operation in Chandler. Here’s what residents need to know.

What does Intel do in Chandler?

The company’s two main facilities in Chandler are called the Ocotillo campus and the Chandler campus.

The Chandler facility has a broader purpose. Employees there work on everything from Intel’s “autonomous vehicle” efforts to its semiconductor packaging technology to research and development.

The Ocotillo campus is almost exclusively focused on manufacturing semiconductors.

How big is Intel in Chandler?

The Ocotillo site is massive. It’s made up of more than a dozen buildings and occupies roughly 700 acres in southwest Chandler.

In terms of its importance to the city, Intel is second to none. It’s Chandler’s “leading employer,” according to city spokesperson Stephanie Romero.

Staffers have also said Intel’s multi-billion dollar expansion was one of the major reasons Chandler’s revenue increased by 20% this year. That cash helped Chandler pay off its public safety pension debt earlier than expected.

How many employees work at Intel in Chandler?

Intel employs 13,000 regular employees. That figure is expected to be closer to 16,000 once its expansion is complete.

It also created about 8,000 temporary construction jobs as part of its expansion efforts.