The global battery production sector has doubled over the past five years, but today it is under the threat of stagnation due to an acute shortage of qualified personnel. According to the latest figures from the Korea Battery Manufacturers Association, South Korea already lacks nearly 3,000 skilled workers, and the EU's European Battery Alliance planning group estimates that its battery industry will need 800,000 new skilled workers by 2025.
Some industry experts say that failing to fill the global talent gap could slow the pace of development in the battery sector, which is a staple of electric road transport.
“Demand for specialists in the battery industry is outstripping supply, and battery manufacturers are looking to get this small group of people to work with this technology and not be left behind in the fast-growing market,” said Samsung's Cho Hyun Ryul.
>Richard Kim, Principal Analyst at IHS Markit, said the talent shortage could be a problem for years to come.
“Labor shortages in the battery industry have already become a global problem, and the reality is that there is an imbalance in labor supply and demand as many companies begin to expand their capacity,” he added.
