What to do about the battery talent shortage?
Is there a battery talent shortage, and if so, what can we do about it?
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As demand for batteries surges, the battery industry is facing a critical shortage of skilled workers. A report from the Center for Automotive Research paints a grim picture of the workforce challenges ahead. The organization surveyed 158 North American professionals in the electric vehicle (EV) and battery industries and found that 82% reported shortages of skilled local applicants. Globally, Billy Wu, an associate professor at Imperial College London, estimates that between 300,000 and 1,400,000 battery jobs may need to be filled by 2030. This represents a significant number of individuals who require training in areas such as electrochemistry, power electronics, battery materials, electrical engineering, product and system design, manufacturing, and safety.12
My personal experience confirms this trend. Each time I hired, it was an uphill battle to find suitable candidates locally. Although frustrating, we should not be surprised; battery technology is complex!3
