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Higher labor intensity in US automotive assembly plants after transitioning to electric vehicles

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Listed:
  • Andrew Weng

    (University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, 1231 Beal Ave)

  • Omar Y. Ahmed

    (University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, 1231 Beal Ave)

  • Gabriel Ehrlich

    (University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, 611 Tappan Ave)

  • Anna Stefanopoulou

    (University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, 1231 Beal Ave)

Abstract

It has been widely suggested that the transition to battery electric vehicles will require 30% fewer assembly workers than those needed for internal combustion engine vehicles. Here, we use publicly available datasets on vehicle production and employment to show that labor intensity has increased at U.S. vehicle assembly plants that have fully transitioned to assembling battery electric vehicles. During the production ramp-up period, labor intensity increases by more than ten-fold compared to historic combustion vehicle assembly labor intensity. For one assembly site studied, labor intensity and total employment remained three times higher after a decade of electric vehicle production. Our study suggests that it may take longer than 15 years for electric vehicle assembly sites to achieve labor intensity parity with internal combustion vehicle assembly. Thus, rapid widespread loss of employment at vehicle assembly plants is a smaller risk than many fear. Moreover, our study calls for more regionally focused analyses of the transition’s effects on labor using data-driven and macro-level surveying approaches.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Weng & Omar Y. Ahmed & Gabriel Ehrlich & Anna Stefanopoulou, 2024. "Higher labor intensity in US automotive assembly plants after transitioning to electric vehicles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-52435-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52435-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Junghyun Lim & Michaël Aklin & Morgan R. Frank, 2023. "Location is a major barrier for transferring US fossil fuel employment to green jobs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Shaiken, Harley, 2010. "Commitment is a Two-Way Street: Toyota, California and NUMMI," Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, Working Paper Series qt0rx6q86w, Institute of Industrial Relations, UC Berkeley.
    3. Funk, Patrick & Davis, Alex & Vaishnav, Parth & Dewitt, Barry & Fuchs, Erica, 2020. "Individual inconsistency and aggregate rationality: Overcoming inconsistencies in expert judgment at the technical frontier," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    4. Patricia Romero-Lankao & Nicole Rosner & Christof Brandtner & Christopher Rea & Adolfo Mejia-Montero & Francesca Pilo & Fedor Dokshin & Vanesa Castan-Broto & Sarah Burch & Scott Schnur, 2023. "A framework to centre justice in energy transition innovations," Post-Print hal-04325791, HAL.
    5. Patricia Romero-Lankao & Nicole Rosner & Christof Brandtner & Christopher Rea & Adolfo Mejia-Montero & Francesca Pilo & Fedor Dokshin & Vanesa Castan-Broto & Sarah Burch & Scott Schnur, 2023. "A framework to centre justice in energy transition innovations," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(11), pages 1192-1198, November.
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