In 2023, registrations of medium and heavy-duty electric trucks in the United States increased by approximately 500 per cent.
While in 2022 there were 1,948 units registered, by December of last year the figure exceeded 10,000. Currently, there are a total of 12,894 vehicles in circulation.
Given these numbers, the outlook for the coming years is positive, and in this regard, the national labour economy will benefit.
It is estimated that by 2032, 262,000 new jobs will be created within the sector, according to an analysis published by The International Council of Clean Transport (ICCT).
It is worth noting that the study divides occupations into two areas, with the meter as the midpoint.
On one hand, the term “behind the meter” refers to the customer, encompassing all jobs related to the electrical panel, charging point, and the vehicle itself.
On the other hand, the term “front of the meter” is used to refer to the electric company, where the infrastructure is located, such as substations, transformers, and feeder lines.
Read more: China, Europe, and the USA: What are the differences in their charging infrastructures?”
In this regard, the ICCT document reflects that in eight years, 94 per cent of the estimated new jobs will be part of the “front of the meter.”
Considering that the predominance will be on the part of those jobs mostly related to the charging network and the distribution of its infrastructure, it is evident that occupations such as operators or drivers do not contribute numerically significantly.
Among the full-time jobs categorized in the “front of the meter” category, the following stand out: Firstly, the Substation constructor position, with an annual salary of $110,000; Another highly sought-after occupation is Grid components manufacturer, with an annual salary of $97,000; Further down the salary scale is the Conduit layer position, with an annual salary of $45,000.
Additionally, workers are also needed for the Meter Installer position, with a salary of $40,000 annually.
It is worth noting that these salaries represent the current reality and are based on a national average within the United States according to the ZipRecruiter website.
Another ICCT study reveals that by 2032, there will be 150,000 jobs categorized as “behind the meter.”
This figure indicates that the “front” of light electric vehicles will represent a significant percentage of job positions.
Furthermore, a considerable increase in lithium battery gigafactory projects is expected to meet the sector’s demand, also contributing to job creation.
Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm stated that the country “needs over 100 battery plants” to meet industry requirements by 2035.
In this regard, the creation of between 200,000 and 300,000 new jobs is expected within a decade, not including the occupations of builders that will be used to construct the facilities.
Currently, between operational factories and those to be inaugurated in the next five years, there will be a total of 15 plants in the United States.
This surge in factory projects stems from a series of measures outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), legislation implemented during Joe Biden’s tenure in 2022.
In line with this legislative package, there are numerous incentives for car manufacturers and consumers to produce domestically, a concerted effort to reduce the United States’ reliance on China for batteries.
Specifically, electric vehicles that meet certain battery sourcing and production guidelines qualify for a 7,500 dollars tax credit.
Moreover, the IRA mandates that 60 per cent of the value of component parts be produced or assembled in North America by 2024 to qualify for half of the tax credit.
Read more: Europe will open 250 battery factories by 2033. What are the confirmed projects?
