PATHWAY CONNECTION

The Need for Electric Vehicle Service and Infrastructure Technicians in New Jersey research report summarizes the trends in vehicle electrification and need for workers as determined by stakeholders in the automotive industry, and suggests how the state can support educational institutions in developing this vital workforce. The rapid move to electrification of vehicles (both hybrid gas/electric and pure electric (EV)) will affect all transportation sectors, thus increasing the need for skilled workers to safely maintain and repair the vehicles and the infrastructure required to sustain them. Two roundtable listening forums were held with stakeholders from the automotive industry and educational institutions in the fall of 2022. From the discussions it became clear that there already is a demand for traditional automotive technicians, but the move to electric vehicles will make the need for technicians trained specifically to work on hybrid vehicles and EVs more acute in the coming years. Educational institutions can prepare students for this lucrative and secure trade by focusing on safety and basic electronic principles. Developing apprenticeships with dealerships is a strategy that could help both the educational institutions and dealerships. Government can play a vital role by educating the public on the changes being brought about by the electrification of the transportation sector, adopting common-sense safety standards for workers involved with hybrid vehicles and EVs, providing financial support for institutions and students interested in the trade, and assisting with the infrastructure changes needed by dealerships and the public with the growing use of electric vehicles.