More electricians, fewer pump attendants – how EVs will change SA's job market

• The transition to electric vehicles will bring new job opportunities in battery manufacturing and assembly and urban planning.
• Demand for electricians is also high, with researchers warning there could be a shortage of electricians in the country.
• But this transition will come at a cost, putting the jobs of petrol attendants and diesel mechanics at risk, and requiring new skills for firefighters and welders.
• For climate change news and analysis, visit: News24 The future of climate.

According to researchers, South Africa's transition to electric vehicles should not only increase demand for electricians, but also create new job opportunities in battery manufacturing, assembly and even urban planning. That's what it means.

Speaking at a webinar on SA's transition to electric vehicles on Monday, Lesego Moshikaro-Amani, senior economist at research institute Trade and Industrial Policy and Strategy (TIPS), said that the expected future if electric vehicles were more widely adopted. We shared some of the insights from unpublished research on the skills gap. .

The study highlights that certain occupations such as petrol fillers and diesel mechanics will be at risk if electric vehicles are fully introduced across the domestic market, something the government is also concerned about. ing.

But there are also new job opportunities. Demand for software skills, research and development skills, electronics engineering, cybersecurity, charging infrastructure and smart grid expertise is expected to increase, the study said.

In addition to potential new jobs in battery manufacturing, particularly in the production of cells and battery assemblies, there will also be benefits in the area of ​​recycling. Moshikaro-Amani said site planners and city planners would also be needed to study where charging stations should be installed.

Electric vehicles make up only a small portion of the vehicles on the roads in the Southeast, but they are expected to become even more popular in the coming years as authorities in Europe, the United States and elsewhere work to ensure their widespread adoption. I am.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition also released its long-awaited white paper on electric vehicles in November last year. This paper mainly focuses on the production of electric vehicles, and global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change are increasing the demand for low- or no-emission vehicles. It emphasizes that it is increasing.

In 2022, the European Parliament approved a ban on the sale of fossil fuel vehicles by 2035. The EU also happens to be a major export destination for South African cars, posing a major risk to one of the country's biggest employers.

According to TIPS analysis, the industry employs approximately 650,000 people. These are 94,000 direct jobs in manufacturing and assembly and 556,000 indirect jobs supporting vehicle use and maintenance and repair.

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skill shift

Demand for high voltage electricians, who are typically employed by Eskom, local authorities and mines, is expected to increase significantly. TIPS researchers have warned that there is a shortage of qualified electricians for electric vehicles. Moshikaro-Amani said the increased demand for such electricians could create a “severe shortage” in the country.

Demand for auto mechanics with advanced technical skills for both electric and fuel-powered vehicles is also expected to increase.

Less than half (46%) of mechanics are considered non-regular workers, putting them at risk of losing their job opportunities. “Not only do informal mechanics lose revenue and risk losing their jobs (and potential customers), they also put their safety at risk. [in the shift to electric vehicles]', the researchers pointed out.

They warn that unqualified and poorly trained mechanics can negatively impact the quality of repairs.

The electric vehicle white paper also pointed out that mechanical repair of electric vehicles involves “highly technical work.”

“Troubleshooting will be a key constraint, especially for informal mechanics who do not have the skills, training, or tools to perform EV-related work,” the paper said. Says. It recommended developing a plan to certify or formalize informal service providers who provide training and support to work with electric vehicles.

Read | BMW says internal combustion engine vehicles have reached their peak as EVs drive growth

TIPS has identified occupations that will continue to exist but that require reskilling and upskilling in electric vehicles.

“Reskilling requires a strong educational foundation,” Moshikaro-Amani says. Currently, the majority of automotive manufacturing employees have matrix qualifications. Moshikaro-Amani added that “the majority of EV jobs are highly skilled jobs that require vocational training and, in some cases, qualifications.”

Other skills that will need to be upskilled include salespeople, insurance companies, and marketers who need to understand the specifications and safety of electric vehicles. Even first responders like ambulances and firefighters need to know how to respond to accidents involving electric vehicles.

New jobs in the electric vehicle industry.

Attached TIPS

The electric vehicle white paper also highlights the need for skills development.

This includes upskilling existing employees in design, engineering, manufacturing, and aftermarket services such as maintenance and repair. Workers must learn how to install new components in these vehicles, such as charging sockets, batteries, and electric motors. “Welders will also need specialized training to weld aluminum, which is widely used in EVs, rather than traditional steel,” the white paper says.

Given the growing demand for electromechanical engineers, higher education programs will also need to integrate and adapt both the mechanical and electrical engineering skills needed for electric vehicles.

When it comes to skills training for new jobs, collaboration and partnership between government and industry will be important, Moshikaro-Amani added.

The impact on employment will also depend on the pace of penetration of electric vehicles in the domestic market.

In other markets, government incentives drove demand for electric vehicles. South Africa's ficus is not in a position to offer consumers incentives to buy electric vehicles. Electric cars are also much more expensive than gasoline or diesel cars.

South African electric vehicle sales rose 65% to 7,693 in 2023, according to data tracked by TIPS senior economist Gaylor Montmasson-Clare, but still quite low.

While there are global front-runners like China in the electric vehicle sector (in terms of sales volumes), most countries are also “working on” the transition, Montmasson-Claire said.

“Yes, we have some leaders, but if we compare by global standards, we (South Africa) are not necessarily behind,” he said.