Ottawa, April 22, 2024—ICTC’s latest report, Fast-Charging Ontario’s Electric Vehicle Workforce, highlights the immense opportunity for Ontario workers in the rapidly developing electric vehicle industry—if the province can invest in workforce alignment.
Key findings include:
- Ontario needs programs that foster awareness about career opportunities in mining. A secure supply of battery materials will be vital to support the electric vehicle industry, and with a strong mining industry and access to critical minerals, Ontario could meet the demand. However, an anticipated 50% of workers in the exploration and mining industry are expected to retire within the next decade—and attracting youth to the mining industry is a challenge.
- Ontario needs partnerships between industry and educational institutions to fill knowledge and skills gaps in the electric vehicle sector. The manufacturing sector is experiencing a high demand for talent with electric vehicle-related skills and significant workforce gaps. The sector faces difficulties attracting skilled and diverse talent, an aging workforce, the need for rapid workforce reskilling, and misaligned post-secondary training curricula that are struggling to keep up with rapid changes and developments in the industry.
- Building electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout Ontario presents a significant challenge and a major employment opportunity. There is an acute and long-running shortage of electricians in Ontario. With a scarcity of electricians, public charging infrastructure projects, as well as the installation of private residential home chargers, are subject to delays and increased costs. As electric vehicles become increasingly common across Ontario, there will be more demand for qualified electricians to install and maintain public and private charging infrastructure.
- Automotive recyclers will need to upskill their workforces and develop new processes to safely and economically recycle electric vehicles that have reached the end of their useful lives. Most automotive recyclers in Ontario are small businesses that may lack the capacity to make major investments to adapt to change and stay competitive.
Ontario’s rapidly developing electric vehicle industry presents enormous economic opportunities for the province and its workforce. Ontario is one of the few jurisdictions in the world that has the potential to engage in the entire electric vehicle value chain. If Ontario can align its workforce with emerging needs, the province has the potential to become a North American electric vehicle powerhouse.
“Ontario's electric vehicle industry isn't just about cars; it's about seizing a generational economic opportunity. From mining to manufacturing and beyond, investing in workforce development is key to unlocking the full potential of this transformative industry and leading the charge toward a sustainable future.” —Namir Anani, President and CEO, ICTC
Read the Report
Fast-Charging Ontario’s Electric Vehicle Workforce
About ICTC
The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is a neutral, not-for-profit national center of expertise with the mission of strengthening Canada's digital advantage in the global economy. For over 30 years, and with a team of 110 experts, we have delivered forward-looking research, practical policy advice, and capacity-building solutions for individuals and businesses. The organization’s goal is to ensure that technology is utilized to drive economic growth and innovation and that Canada's workforce remains competitive on a global scale.
To arrange an interview on this study or other media inquiries, please contact Paul Stastny at @email or 403.351.0138 Ext. 823.
This study was funded by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Government of Ontario.
