You’re invited to a webinar on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 from 11am-12pm EST. Please click here to register.

Who Should Attend: Automotive industry professionals, academia, government representatives, career development experts, consultants, students and other individuals interested in the automotive sector’s future, and employees who are transitioning or seeking to learn more about future employment needs of the industry.

Details: 

As Canada’s auto sector evolves from the production of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) to electric vehicles (EVs), many opportunities will emerge. There will also be challenges. New jobs will be created as the transition impacts vehicle production, suppliers, battery production, mining/mineral processing, and infrastructure, but there may also be job disruption in occupations more directly tied to the production of internal combustion vehicles. Change is inevitable, but one thing is certain; understanding occupational needs and addressing skills shortages are of paramount importance to the industry in the future, as is understanding and mitigating the impact on those that may be displaced.

The Government of Canada has introduced the new Electric Vehicle Availability Standard whereby auto manufacturers and importers must meet annual zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) regulated sales targets with a requirement that all new light-duty vehicles offered for sale must be 100% ZEV by 2035. Not only does this impact vehicle producers and industry suppliers as the industry transitions, but it will also impact occupations in the sector from skills requirements, to potential job gains/losses, to the transferability of skill sets across the entire supply chain.

Canada is well positioned to participate in the decarbonization of transportation, with its capabilities and strengths in vehicle and automotive parts production, it’s harmonized trade relationships with the United States and Mexico, access to critical natural resources needed for electric vehicles and supportive governments, as witnessed with recent new investments in Canada’s automotive sector for electric vehicle and battery production and critical mineral mining capacities. As a critical component to Canada’s economy, the automotive light vehicle assembly and supply chain are significant contributors to Canada’s GDP, exports and overall well-being, employing over 200,000 workers in Canada.

We’ve asked and answered the following questions: What is Canada’s automotive sector’s readiness for this transition? Where are the opportunities? What’s at stake? What occupations and skill sets will be required? Where are there shortages today? What other key trends are affecting the Automotive and Advanced Manufacturing sector’s labour force?

As an industry stakeholder, you’re invited to join our upcoming Industry Consultation webinar focusing on the Waterloo, Wellington, Dufferin and Simcoe Regions. During this free webinar and consultative discussion, the FOCAL team will provide a detailed breakdown of changes in the supply and demand of key automotive and battery manufacturing occupations in the Waterloo, Wellington, Dufferin and Simcoe Regions. An overview of FOCAL’s latest findings on the economic and labour market impacts with the transition from ICEVs to EVs production will be presented. FOCAL will also share with attendees its latest achievements on hiring and training workers within the automotive manufacturing industry and its supply chain. This presentation will include newly updated forecast data across various scenarios that may unfold as the industry transitions towards decarbonization, which will help inform industry, academia and government planning and preparation.

This event is hosted by the Future of Canadian Automotive Labourforce (FOCAL) Initiative, which is funded in part by the Government of Canada (Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program), and is a collaboration of the Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition (CSTEC), the Automotive Policy Research Centre (APRC) and Prism Economics and Analysis.