The electric vehicle (EV) industry is growing and this has led to a rise in demand for new skills and expertise. It is creating opportunities of various types and at various levels for those looking to make a career in this segment.
Alok Kumar, Senior Director of Manpower, ManpowerGroup India, says the EV segment has garnered a lot of attention of late among the government, industry and even the general public. While the segment needs people with technical know-how, the push for indigenous manufacturing has created space for leadership roles, too, in the segment. The demand is particularly visible for leaders in EV hardware and software, as well as design manufacturing and production.
The Indian EV industry has witnessed significant growth in recent years, says Suchita Dutta, Executive Director at Indian Staffing Federation, because of factors such as the increasing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, government initiatives promoting electric vehicle adoption, and rising environmental concerns.
Backgrounds, skill sets and qualifications in need
The technical skill sets that are required are in vehicle diagnosis & integration, cell modelling, electric motor design and complex control system, says Kumar. Along with these, there is a long-standing need for effective supply chain management and hybrid vehicle design. A lot of sector-specific courses are being created and rolled out for students. Even vocational colleges are designing EV industry-centric courses and modules to equip students and professionals with the technical skill sets.
EV software and hardware engineers, battery and service technicians, fleet management professionals are needed to drive the growth of the sector.
Dutta points out that the industry is in an early growth stage and most opportunities have been created in technical, ground staff and backend teams. These people have been gainfully employed through the contract staffing industry. As the demand for EVs continues to surge, there is an increasing need for skilled professionals in areas such as research and development, production, sales and marketing, and after-sales service. These roles offer diverse opportunities.
Solutions through contract staffing
The government’s moves to expand charging infrastructure and establish battery charging stations have contributed to the adoption of contract workforce in the EV industry, Dutta says. Contract staffing allows professionals to contribute to the industry’s growth, upgrade themselves with skills and be agile during innovation, while ensuring the flexibility and agility required for businesses to create stronger roots, she says.
In the research and development segment, Dutta explains, there is a growing demand for engineers with expertise in battery technology, electric powertrain systems and vehicle integration. The production sector is seeking skilled technicians and production supervisors well-versed in the manufacturing processes. In the sales and marketing domain, there is a need for professionals with an understanding of the technology and a track record in marketing sustainable products. The after-sales service segment requires technicians and customer service representatives specialised in EV maintenance and repair.
As the Indian EV industry continues to expand, the demand growth will mostly be witnessed through contract staffing, she says. This presents an array of opportunities for professionals seeking innovative and flexible employment options within this burgeoning sector.
Types of responsibilities leaders need to solve
Kumar clarifies that the industry and its dynamics are still evolving. Fast and constant shifts are happening and these are creating potential and challenges simultaneously.
One of the areas leaders need to focus on and solve is development and maintenance of charging infrastructure. Finding talent ready to cope up with the demand of the sector is another challenge for leaders. Engineers and leaders without cross-domain skills might not be able to withstand such massive transformations.
Issues companies face in finding leaders
Kumar says electric and self-driving vehicles demand strong leaders who can deliver growth on a landscape that is changing fast. There is a talent war, especially for senior resources with cross-domain engineering skills, in the EV space. Companies are facing a huge challenge in locating leaders with the right technical skill sets such as Matlab, Simulink, battery engineering and battery management systems, and vehicle & system integration. Design expertise is another area.
Companies need to equip themselves with leaders who can segue through the geopolitical challenges in the market and mitigate risks by finding alternative input-sourcing geographies, cost-effective production facilities and profitable markets for EV products.
With the Indian government announcing tax incentives and lower goods and services tax on EV, the industry is expected to witness a further boost in demand and will further grow these roles through the contract staffing industry, Dutta adds.
