Japan plans to teach teenagers the skills to make electric car batteries to combat the industry’s chronic labor shortage, according to Nikkei Asia.
▲ Photo by Panasonic Energy
In March, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and trade groups, including the Battery Supply Chain Association, detailed plans to train 30,000 battery-related workers by 2030, compared to the current 10,000 battery-related workers in Japan. Both Panasonic and Toyota are members of the Battery Supply Chain Association.
As a first step in the program, about 40 students will take a pilot class on battery technology starting this December at Osaka Prefectural University’s Technical College, a five-year vocational school. Next year, similar classes will be offered at vocational schools, high schools and universities in other parts of Japan.
Masaru Miki, chief human resources officer at Panasonic Energy, said the company hired 50 students from vocational schools and high schools this year but will need more talent. Panasonic Energy plans to hire 5,000 employees worldwide by 2026, with about 3,000 in North America.
Miki also revealed that in addition to Japan, Panasonic Energy has been in talks with several U.S. community colleges to help train workers for its planned new battery plants in the U.S., including the one in DeSoto, Kansas. “If we want to do this in depth, we may need to create a ‘Matsushita off-duty’.”
It was previously reported that Panasonic Energy is currently the main supplier of Tesla batteries. At Tesla’s request, Panasonic has confirmed it will build a third battery factory in the U.S. and plans to triple its battery capacity in the U.S. by 2030.
