In recent years, environmentalists have been trying to get electric vehicles (EVs) to catch on in more major cities around the world. It’s been a work in progress, but with the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) passing last year, those efforts could begin paying off in a huge way.
Thanks to the IRA, there are more initiatives in place for both businesses and drivers to adopt electric vehicles; and that means more jobs in sustainability.
More Demand = More Jobs
It’s basic business that more demand for a product leads to more sales growth and more jobs. The same holds true for the EV industry. In a recent report, the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a nonprofit organization that promotes a global transition to clean energy, emphasized the potential for more green jobs in this field particularly.
Its primary aim was to look at what kind of impact the IRA would have on various sectors of the economy, and the EV industry was part of that.
“The Inflation Reduction Act has the potential to significantly increase EV adoption, as it provides subsidies and tax incentives enabling the United States to unlock a host of economic, public health and climate benefits while promoting domestic job growth and security,” according to the RMI.
It estimated that within another 10 years, the demand for EV batteries alone will increase enormously.
“By investing in a circular domestic battery supply chain today, the United States will be better positioned to meet rising battery demand, create jobs and drive technology innovation,” the RMI said.
Location, Location, Location
But the RMI went beyond giving just a general idea of how much more jobs could be provided in the EV field as a result of the IRA. It specifically said that if new EV battery production plants are created in certain regions that currently rely on fossil fuels, the payout could be even greater from both an environmental and economic perspective.
According to the RMI’s research, “The placement of battery production plants matters from a job creation perspective… These communities could particularly benefit from battery production and manufacturing jobs.”
Boom in EV Jobs Already Taking Hold
On EcoCareers, an online resource site dedicated to helping sustainable businesses connect with jobseekers in the green economy, this increase in job openings is already beginning to show. There are over 100 EV jobs available on our online job board right now, up dramatically from before the IRA was enacted.
For anyone looking to join the industry and become part of the incredible growth that’s about to take place, now is the time.
Find the latest green jobs in the USA, Canada, and the UK via EcoCareers.