Introduction
Electromobiles are a new type of transport, environmentally clean and efficient if excluding their explosive development at the beginning of the 20th century. Their percentage of the total number of cars worldwide is still insignificant, but it is increasing tremendously (Azar et al. 167). Electric vehicles have many advantages compared to cars with combustion engines. These include the power, the car’s interior space, and no maintenance requirement. Hence, it is essential to establish the impact of electric vehicles on the job market for mechanics.
The Reduction of Workplaces
The rejection of traditional cars will have a negative effect on the labor market. The transition to electric vehicles will be connected with unemployment. The production of electric cars requires significantly less work than conventional cars. For example, constructing electric motors and batteries requires 40% less effort than producing engines and transmissions for traditional vehicles (Wilberforce et al. 25695). Ford and Volkswagen estimate that producing electric cars would require 30% less workforce than producing vehicles using fossil fuel. Therefore, the EU’s plans to prohibit cars with internal combustion engines will threaten half a million jobs by 2035 (Wilberforce et al. 25696). Meanwhile, the manufacturing of nonconventional vehicles is expected to create 226,000 new jobs in the next two decades (Wilberforce et al. 25696). Accordingly, almost half of auto mechanics will not be finding work opportunities.
In addition, the cost of developing new technology could lead to even further job destruction. Indeed, the more a company spends on its production budget, the fewer workers the corporation can afford. However, the use of intermediate technologies in the automotive industry will mitigate the blow of the transition to alternative transport (Frey and Osborne 254). Consequently, it is predicted that the number of positions for mechanics will be reduced due to the less labor-intensive production of electric cars.
A Fundamental Transformation of the Job Market and New Opportunities for Mechanics
Nonetheless, some experts do not agree with the statistics concerning job reductions and state that they are exaggerated. For instance, a Volkswagen chief executive maintains that most of the car’s component pieces remain the same (Frey and Osborne 261). Electric vehicles still require seats, paints, bodywork, interiors, wheels, and wasps. Electromotors and battery production are also included, which need the work of mechanics. However, due to the mass production of electric vehicles, specially trained electric mechanics are valuable (Frey and Osborne 263). Electromobility mechanics are professionals who will be required in the near future.
Significantly, a sustainable agreement has emerged in the electronics and digital industry that manufacturers retain the right to perform repairs. This is because such devices are considered patented inventions and are protected by patents and intellectual property laws. The ability of manufacturers to assert intellectual property rights enables them to circumvent laws that force other industries to transfer repair entitlements to consumers (Wicki et al. 131774). Accordingly, electric car production companies preserve the right to have their vehicles serviced. Hence, it needs a high number of electric mechanics to service electric vehicles.
They will be engaged in repairing and maintaining electric motors and all electrical systems of the car. These professionals should have an excellent understanding of electricity and the ability to solder microcircuits and assemble components of electrical networks. It is significant to mention that specialists with such knowledge and abilities are valuable nowadays (Wicki et al. 131774). This is because modern cars already have many electronics which require repair and maintenance, which is why such experts are essential in the labor market. Accordingly, if mechanics enhance their qualifications, they can obtain new employment opportunities.
In this way, mechanics can receive additional training to solve complex, specialized problems in electric vehicles, automotive electronics, and energy-saving technologies (Azar et al. 169). Furthermore, it will allow them to address practical challenges, which involve the application of knowledge and abilities in electric power engineering, electrical engineering, and electromechanics. Consequently, such professionals will be provided with jobs in the labor market and be capable of receiving higher wages, in contrast to traditional mechanics.
Conclusion
Therefore, most automobile companies attempt to follow the world’s trends and adopt the production of electric cars. Correspondingly, mechanics are losing their jobs due to decreased production of traditional vehicles. At the same time, there is a growing need for electro-mechanics, which will be capable of repairing and manufacturing electric vehicles. Accordingly, there are significant changes in the labor market, requiring mechanics to enhance their own qualifications. For electric mechanics, these transformations represent more opportunities in the employment field. Thus, the basic principles of competition will enable highly educated and valuable workers to obtain new workplaces.
Works Cited
Azar, José, et al. “Labor market concentration.” Journal of Human Resources, vol.57, 2022, p.167-199. Web.
Frey, Carl Benedikt, and Michael Osborne. “The Future of Employment: How Susceptible are Jobs to Computerisation?.”Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 114, 2017, pp. 254-280. Web.
Wicki, Michael, et al. “How to Accelerate the Uptake of Electric Cars? Insights From a Choice Experiment.” Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 355, 2022, p. 131774.
Wilberforce, Tabbi, et al. “Developments of Electric Cars and Fuel Cell Hydrogen Electric Cars.” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 42, no. 40, 2017, pp. 25695-25734.