Battery jobs guide released
3 February 2025
‘BATTERY POWERED PATHWAYS’ – training and employment guide released
Today the Hon. Simone McGurk, Minister for Training and Workforce Development, officially launched Powering Australia’s first publication titled “Battery Powered Pathways – A guide to VET roles, courses and micro-credentials”.
Australia is experiencing significant long-term employment growth associated with worldwide demand for batteries and battery powered equipment and this guide provides an overview of the education, training and employment opportunities offered by the battery sector.
Powering Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Shannon O’Rourke said the guide offers exciting employment pathways that will need both VET and university level qualifications and is aimed at entrants to the workforce, current tradespeople or workers seeking to transition to roles in the clean economy.
“It is estimated that a diversified Australian battery industry could support more than 61,000 workers by 2030 (Accenture, 2023) of which roughly 70% of the roles will be VET-trained operators, electricians, technicians, allied tradespeople, and 30% of these roles will be university-educated engineers, industrial metallurgists, electrochemists,” said Shannon.
The guide was developed through extensive national consultation to identify key skills gaps to ensure a coordinated national approach that is fit for purpose and addresses the needs of the sector. Each of the seven different segments of the battery value chain are examined, the type of industries that participate in it, characteristics of the workforce needed, and possible vocational and training pathways.
The guide aligns with the Cook Government’s economic diversification and energy transition activities and supports the Australian Government’s National Battery Strategy and the Future Made in Australia policies.
This project received grant funding from the Australian Government and from the FBICRC.
The guide is available for download here: Battery Powered Pathways