“EVeryone Charging Forward” is an initiative for which Siemens Foundation has allocated 30 million dollars to promote an inclusive workforce for electromobility.
The project is a response to the rapid growth in the electric vehicle charging sector due to both public and private investment, which has generated significant demand for skilled workers across the industry.
With this workforce development initiative, the Foundation seeks to ensure and scale equitable access to jobs for individuals from all backgrounds.
It is also stated by the company that this initiative will “meaningfully contribute to the decarbonization and strengthening of the U.S. economy”.
The program will initially focus on the Midwest and Southeast of the United States, specifically Michigan and North Carolina.
“Partners of EVeryone Charging Forward will leverage these investments to enable hundreds of individuals in both states to access job opportunities,” they affirm.
To support these goals, the Foundation is collaborating with the National Governors Association’s Center for Best Practices (NGA) and the National League of Cities Institute (NLC).
In addition to NLC and NGA, the company is partnering with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) and the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP).
Together with these organizations, accessible pathways will be created for individuals from underserved and underrepresented communities towards well-paying technical jobs in the EV charging sector, particularly in assembly, installation, and maintenance.
Regarding the $1.5 trillion infrastructure investment by the Biden Administration, David Etzwiler, CEO of Siemens, emphasizes:
“It presents an unprecedented opportunity for the United States to reclaim and maintain a leadership role in manufacturing while growing the clean energy economy”.
He adds: “But, to accomplish these goals, we must attract, train and retain an inclusive workforce like never before”.
A study by Princeton University estimates that between 777,000 and 5.1 million new energy-related jobs could be created in the United States by 2030.
In this regard, Barbara Humpton, CEO of Siemens USA and Chair of the Siemens Foundation Board of Directors, insists:
“As we electrify our infrastructure, we’re also working to build a more equitable workforce, expanding the opportunities available for people to pursue well-paying, purpose-driven careers”.
For the time being, the initiative will have a duration of ten years.
