DETROIT, September 2024 — The U.S.Battery Workforce Challenge Program,
The Battery Workforce Challenge Program addresses critical skill gaps and seeks to reskill and upskill individuals for high-demand roles in the EV and battery manufacturing sectors. This program’s launch follows DOE’s 2024 U.S. Energy and Employment Report, which indicated a 4.2% growth in clean energy jobs in 2023, adding 142,000 new jobs. Clean energy jobs accounted for 56% of new positions in the energy sector.
Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at DOE, emphasized the program’s significance: “The Battery Workforce Challenge Program creates a comprehensive ecosystem involving universities, community colleges, vocational schools, government, and industry partners to educate and train the next generation of technicians, electricians, and engineers.”
The first hub, the Michigan Battery Workforce Pilot, will map out career pathways within the battery industry and fortify Michigan’s role as a leader in STEM talent development. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), University of Michigan-Dearborn (UMD), and Henry Ford College will be key partners in this pilot project. High school students, vocational school attendees, and university students will receive specialized training aimed at addressing the battery industry’s current and future workforce needs.
The program has secured $23.6 million in funding from public and private sponsors, including notable companies such as Stellantis, Samsung SDI America, American Battery Technology Company, and others. This financial support will provide equipment, mentorships, internships, and job placement opportunities for more than 14,000 workers, enabling them to gain experience in advanced battery technology.
Joe Pittel, General Counsel and Vice President of Samsung SDI America, commented: “For the electrification revolution to succeed, we must invest in the workforce of the future, not just in infrastructure.”
In addition to the hands-on workforce training, DOE will provide $200,000 in funding to establish a Battery/EV Technical Center at Henry Ford College, while MEDC will allocate $200,000 to the University of Michigan-Dearborn to launch an undergraduate curriculum focused on battery design, assembly, and testing.
The program also includes the creation of a three-year Battery Workforce Challenge Engineering Competition for higher education institutions, aimed at giving students practical, hands-on experience in battery design and development. More than 24 universities and vocational schools across North America are participating, with more than 3,000 workers expected to be trained in the first three years.
DOE’s partnerships, including one with New Energy New York and Binghamton University, will ensure that battery and EV training content is standardized, scalable, and accessible nationwide. This program is key to filling workforce gaps while ensuring a smooth transition to clean energy technologies, driving economic growth, and enhancing national security.
As battery technology advances and demand grows, the Battery Workforce Challenge Program will be a cornerstone of U.S. efforts to maintain global competitiveness, secure supply chains, and promote sustainable, high-paying jobs in the rapidly expanding EV and battery sectors.
