Predicting the workforce requirements for residential electrification and electric vehicle charging infrastructure

This research presents a method and data to estimate labour requirements for residential electrification and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure using survey data from Victoria, Australia. Whereas workforce projection methods for electricity generation, storage and transmission are relatively established, the ability to forecast the workforce for electrification, energy efficiency and flexible demand technologies (the demand-side workforce) remains underdeveloped and there is scant information on the EV workforce. Using installer surveys, employment factors were developed for electrification of residential hot water heating, space conditioning and cooking, and for installation, operation, and maintenance of EV chargers. The three key trades for residential electrification (electricians, plumbers and air-conditioning technicians) are already experiencing persistent skill shortages in Australia, highlighting the risks for the energy transition. The research found the labour intensity of EV charger types is considerably higher for fast DC chargers, so the composition of charging infrastructure has significant implications for workforce requirements. While further surveys are needed to build the evidence base, this study provides the first detailed analysis of workforce requirements for these aspects of electrification. The information enables forecasting of workforce requirements, so that policy makers and education providers can develop appropriate workforce development programs. • First employment factors for EV charging infrastructure and home electrification. • New method for deriving employment projections for demand-side energy workforce. • Occupational composition for EV charging infrastructure and home electrification. • Workforce scale and occupational shares for Victorian electrification scenario.