Seen from a distance, the Canadian the automotive industry consists of thousands of skilled and semi-skilled individuals engaged in largely repetitive tasks while working on vehicle assembly lines.

However, this is increasingly a misconception.

While vehicle assembly and parts production remain crucial, both are embracing increasingly advanced manufacturing technologies all of which are transforming the automotive industry workplace. 

So, let’s bury the outdated clichés and recognize today’s realities.

The facts

Consider these four truths about the automotive industry:

• It is adopting innovative advanced manufacturing technologies to remain competitive and increase productivity.
• It stands at the crossroads of a diverse and growing high-tech ecosystem – transforming existing jobs and creating new job types.
• It’s working on advancing new vehicle and manufacturing technologies, which will become core components of the auto industry in the future.
• It is looking for talented individuals who want to be a part of its developing ecosystem – immediate, medium and long-term.

A dynamic breeding ground for innovation

Canada is home to a flourishing and dynamic number of automotive technology organizations that feed into and support the broader manufacturing sector. 

These automotive technology organizations are generally clustered on a regional basis, contributing vital research and development capabilities – and building jobs.

They inspire the growth of new Canadian start-ups working on, but not limited to, the development of autonomous, connected and alternative propulsion vehicle technologies. 

Among the many areas of innovation precipitated by this burst of growth and innovation, we want to focus on just five:

• Electric Vehicles
• Cyber Security
• Autonomous Vehicle Technologies
• Connected Vehicle Technologies
• Big Data

All of the following categories – there are many others – are actively recruiting suitably qualified individuals to foster and fuel their expansion. 

The graphic below illustrates where hiring needs are greatest over the next ten years.

National Occupational Hiring Requirement Outlook, All Industries, 2021-2030

1. Electric Vehicles

A recent survey of Canadian consumers indicated that 68% are interested in purchasing an electric vehicle in the next five years. This includes both pure and hybrid EV models. This demand is expected to contribute to continued growth in this part of the automotive sector.

According to Simon Fraser University’s Clean Energy Canada (CEC) program: “Canada already has a significant portion of its clean energy jobs in the clean transportation sector.” By 2030, CEC predicts that approximately 184,000 people are set to be employed in EV technology alone.

2. Cyber Security

We’ve all heard and read about the effects of cyber-threats and attacks. Cyber security is the practice of defending computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious strikes.

Cyber security in the automotive industry includes in-vehicle security, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) security, and the overall manufacturing supply chain. Cyber security systems protect the product, as well as the overall manufacturing system from various cyber-attacks and threats. Opportunities in this category continue to expand.

3. Autonomous Vehicle Technologies

Autonomous vehicles – and the development of technologies involved in achieving driving autonomy – is a major development in Canadian automotive manufacture.

Autonomous cars rely on sensors, actuators, complex algorithms, machine learning systems, and powerful processors to execute software. Such cars create and maintain a map of their surroundings based on a variety of sensors situated in different parts of the vehicle.

Sophisticated software then processes all this sensory input, plots a path, and sends instructions to the car’s actuators, which control acceleration, braking, and steering. Positions are continuing to open up in this dynamic sector.

4. Connected Vehicle Technologies

Connective technologies – which establish communication between a vehicle and its surroundings – stand at the forefront of innovation in the Canadian automotive industry. Smart, connected vehicles are transforming the driver experience. Consumers are now looking for technologically advanced vehicles to support a ‘connected lifestyle’ where they can still be entertained, productive, and safe behind the wheel.

There are several ways that connective technologies can revolutionize the automotive market. This includes vehicle-to-vehicle data exchange which improves driver safety, vehicle-to-infrastructure data exchange which helps improve traffic flow and reduce congestion, and vehicle-to-internet data exchange where drivers can install and use software applications. The industry is looking for talent in this field.

5. Big Data

Big Data is about the gathering and organizing of big datasets from various sources across the supply chain. It involves the collection, processing and analyzing large datasets using advanced algorithms to detect complex data patterns and correlations.

A huge and growing feature of the automotive manufacturing landscape, big data (and analytics) can assist in detecting errors and failures, enhance production quality and accuracy and increase automotive manufacturing supply chain efficiency. Big data is an important area of employment growth in the automotive industry.

Find out more from FOCAL

The Future of Canadian Automotive Labourforce (FOCAL) Initiative is a collaboration of the Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition (CSTEC), the Automotive Policy Research Centre and Prism Economics and Analysis.

Funded by the Government of Canada, you can find out more about us on our website and follow us on Social Media – LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and through our newsletter. As Canada’s automotive industry heads in an exciting new direction, we hope you’ll come along for the ride.