Intel falls short of job-creation promise as 50 Amish farmhands build semiconductor factory in single day

Along with Intel’s decision to build a massive semiconductor factory in central Ohio came the promise of 7,000 new construction jobs. But Intel this week fell far short of that promise after 50 Amish farmhands completed the project in a single day.

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said this was not the company’s intent and that it only hired some Amish workers in order to adapt to its new surroundings. “The conventional wisdom in Silicon Valley is that Ohio is majority Amish, so we were simply trying to generate some additional goodwill among our new neighbors,” he said.

The 1,000-acre campus will produce what Intel has called “chips” or “wafers” that are used to power just about anything electronic, from cars to military equipment to computers. Should any be left over, they also double as a delicious snack.

“In terms of site location, Intel told us they were looking for a place with a strong workforce—not only to work at the plant, but also to build it,” said Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted. “So the governor and I were thrilled when Intel mentioned hiring Amish workers for part of the project. Have you ever seen those folks work? It’s impressive.”

Suffice it to say, government leaders had no idea how badly such a decision would backfire.

Jim Evers, who will serve as the site’s general manager, said he figured the 50 hired Amish would push some dirt around, maybe plant a few vegetables and then leave the heavy lifting to the thousands of other workers Intel had planned to hire. “But when I showed up on-site a day later, Abraham was pounding the final nail into place,” he said. “Clearly, I underestimated their work ethic and efficiency.”

If Intel had any complaint about the Amish's work on the project, it would be that they failed to clean up all the road apples left behind by their horses. A pretty minor infraction, however, considering their full scope of work.

It is common for an Amish community to come together and erect, say, a barn in a single afternoon. But according to available records, this was the fastest an Amish workforce had ever constructed a computer chip manufacturing facility. That they used nothing more than pulleys, handsaws, hammers and good, old-fashioned elbow grease will solidify their place in history right next to the ancient Egyptians.

Before they could get to work, however, the bearded traditionalists had to suffer through the groundbreaking ceremony, in which people wearing ties shake hands, give speeches and have their pictures taken while sticking shovels into mounds of highly refined soil. “As we’re watching, we all just kept thinking, ‘Move it along; you’re wasting daylight,’” said lead contractor Isaiah Yoder.

And then it was full steam ahead. For perspective, it actually took the workers three times longer to travel to the site than it did to complete the entire construction project.

Can you imagine how long it would take for the Intel facility to be built if left into the hands of these people? It took them more than an hour just to scoop one shovel-full of dirt.

Although Gelsinger had not expected the plant to be made entirely out of wood or to include a hay loft, he was pleased with the final product. “They also made a pair of hand-crafted, wooden rocking chairs for the breakroom that are unbelievably comfortable,” he said. “And the apple butter they left in the kitchenette – to die for!”

While all of this has generated raving reviews of the Amish, it also means that Intel has fallen 6,950 construction jobs short of its promise.

To its credit, Intel said it plans to somehow make up the difference. To fill the gap, Evers said they will have to resort to hiring employees who are less motivated, less efficient and who demand more breaks. That means no more Amish and certainly no immigrants. “Looks like we’re hiring American college graduates from here on out,” he said.

Originally published October 1, 2022.