Transition troubles loom as workers confront the shift to electric vehicles (EVs). Factories retool, skills become obsolete, and uncertainty pervades. The transition mandates new learning, while job security fluctuates. Amid progress, the transition troubles the workforce, demanding adaptability and resilience.
The shift to electric vehicles (EVs) is a point of contention in U.S. politics, with differing opinions on its impact on workers. Former President Trump and some GOP figures have criticized the move to EVs, while President Biden sees it as an opportunity for job creation.
Experts suggest that the reality is more nuanced than either side claims. Sanya Carley, an energy policy professor at the University of Pennsylvania, noted that there’s no clear evidence that EVs are “job-killers.” Some factories have closed, but others have retooled or changed, and the net impact varies.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union, currently on strike, does not oppose the EV transition but accuses automakers of using it to reduce worker compensation. President Biden supports EVs as a climate solution, aiming for two-thirds of new car sales to be electric by 2032.
Research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests that the EV transition could eliminate jobs in some states, but with policies to protect workers, it could create jobs. For instance, requiring domestic production of battery components can spur job creation.
Stephanie Valdez-Streaty, Cox Automotive’s strategic planning director for EVs, believes the transition period when both gas and electric vehicles are produced will allow workers to retrain for new roles.
Overall, the impact on jobs is expected to be mixed. Some jobs may be replaced, while new positions, both direct and indirect, could be created, such as in battery manufacturing and charging infrastructure. However, jobs may shift geographically, with some factories opening in the South rather than the Midwest, impacting unions and wages.
The trend toward EVs is not limited to the U.S., as other countries like the European Union and China are also shifting toward electric vehicles.