The Transition to Electrified Vehicles: Implications for the Future of Automotive Manufacturing and Worker Skills and Occupations

Abstract

The automotive industry's transition to large-scale production of electric vehicles brings with it a transition of worker skills. We examine the changes in labor skills demanded for battery electric vehicle (BEV) powertrains in contrast to traditional internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) powertrains. We collect detailed shop floor data on the labor tasks required for powertrain production steps from automotive manufacturers. Using the O*NET survey instrument and comparative descriptive statistics, we are able to evaluate the level of skills required for the same occupations across the different technologies. We examine statistical differences between the technologies and the extent to which skills within the same vehicle technology are correlated. The results show that production practices used by BEV manufacturers may increase demand for select middle-level to upper-level skills for some physical, cognitive, and social skills relative to ICEV powertrains, but the range of most BEV powertrain skills required is not outside of the range of skills required for ICEV powertrains.

Keywords: Vehicle electrification, powertrain system, workforce skill requirements, O*NET survey instrument