The ICE raid that took place at the Hyundai–LG battery manufacturing plant under construction in Georgia earlier this month is a symptom of a greater problem that faces the American gigafactory sector – a critical domestic talent shortage amongst U.S. citizens and permanent residents. President Trump aims to return jobs ‘back to Americans’ but the battery manufacturing sector faces difficulties with recruiting skilled labour and a lack of interest in battery tech programmes.
The growing demand for EV batteries could create about 84,000 to 125,000 jobs by 2032, with even greater potential through increased domestic upstream and downstream processes. The production for battery packs and cell components, along with battery recycling, has the potential to create roughly 73,000 to 114,000 jobs and 11,000 jobs, respectively. Other jobs related to battery manufacturing will also be created, such as construction jobs, upstream supply chain jobs—including mining, material extraction, and refining—and induced jobs from supporting sectors.
Creating and maintaining a large volume of appropriately skilled workers is essential; otherwise, US battery manufacturing will be delayed and lag behind its foreign competitors such as China and Europe. Modern battery facilities demand operators and technicians with advanced skills in robotics, data analytics, and automated systems. However, local labour pools in many regions lack the required expertise.
Current government and academic workforce programs need to be strengthened and accelerated in order to attract a sufficient number of workers with the requisite skill set. This skills gap has pushed industry leaders to partner with technical programs and invest in robust workforce training initiatives that support the introduction and maintenance of advanced automated lines. Ensuring that battery jobs are of high quality, with competitive wages and benefits to attract and retain skilled workers, can help to build a stable and experienced workforce.
Automation allows manufacturers to streamline complex workflows, reduce their reliance on manual labour, and more easily absorb higher domestic wages and regulatory overhead. Automating processes reduces human error and maximises the uptime of expensive equipment.
The transition from traditional automotive manufacturing to EV battery production involves a shift in skills and job functions. However, many of the skills acquired by automotive workers to build traditional internal combustion engine vehicles may also provide the foundational knowledge and skill sets needed for battery manufacturing; this crossover could help preserve jobs and maintain stable employment in the automotive manufacturing sector overall. Automotive workers who are accustomed to working on ICEVs can potentially apply their knowledge of complex mechanical systems to the assembly and maintenance of EV batteries.
Similarly, expertise in quality control and precision assembly is also essential in ensuring the high standards needed for battery production. Workers familiar with automated assembly lines and robotics in traditional automotive manufacturing could potentially transition to similar roles in EV battery production, if adequate retraining programs are available. The use of robotics and automation is prevalent in both fields, and the ability to program, maintain, and operate these systems is a valuable skill set that remains relevant. Additionally, safety protocols and standards are crucial in both environments, and workers trained in maintaining safety in automotive plants can apply these practices to battery production facilities.
For the opportunity to have in-depth discussions about this and other challenges facing gigafactories, as well as meeting with exhibitors providing circular economy solutions, attend the 4th Battery Gigafactory Summit USA: Advances In Planning, Engineering And Operations, taking place on October 28-29, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
For more information, visit our website or email us at info@innovatrix.eu for the event agenda. Visit our LinkedIn to stay up to date on our latest speaker announcements and event news.
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