New report examines the workforce needs for North America in the rapidly growing battery industry

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Feb. 26, 2024 – The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) is pleased to announce the release of its Examining Workforce Needs for North America: Battery Industry Education and Training Needs Assessment (BIETNA) report. This comprehensive study provides a detailed analysis of the current and future workforce needs of the rapidly growing battery industry in North America. This work was made possible through a research contract with Argonne National Laboratory.

“The BEITNA offers insights from key figures in the battery industry, emphasizing two pivotal challenges. Increasing demand for batteries necessitates workforce expansion across all industry sectors" said Lisa Krusemark, Industry Analyst at CAR. "Closing the skills gaps within the workforce is essential for enhancing productivity and fostering innovation to sustain the domestic battery industry."

The need for a strong battery workforce

The global demand for lithium batteries is surging, driven by the increasing adoption of electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and other advanced technologies. To meet this demand, it is critical to strengthen and sustain the domestic battery supply chain. A skilled and qualified workforce is essential to achieving this goal.

Key findings of the BIETNA report

The BIETNA report identified several key findings regarding the workforce needs of the North American battery industry:

• Significant Skills Gaps
• Workforce Shortages
• Recruitment and Retention Challenges
• Need for Training and Education
• Industry Hiring Estimates
  

Recommendations for the future

The BIETNA report makes a number of recommendations for addressing the workforce needs of the North American battery industry. These recommendations include:

• Developing and expanding training and education programs to address the skills gaps.
• Improving alignment between education and industry to ensure that graduates have the skills that employers need.
• Investing in apprenticeship programs to provide hands-on experience for workers.
• Implementing policies that support workforce development in the battery industry.

A pre-publication copy of the full BIETNA report is available for download from the CAR website. We encourage you to read the report and learn more about the workforce needs of the North American battery industry. 

Together, we can build a strong and sustainable battery industry in North America.