A Shocking Development
Random question: Why are there no "B" batteries?
You might get a charge out of this. (Pun intended.)
You might get a charge out of this. (Pun intended.)
The shift towards electric vehicles is expected to generate demand for labor in three main areas: the design and development of electric vehicles, the production of batteries and other components, and the installation and maintenance of charging infrastructure. According to a recent analysis by the Economic Policy Institute, the shift to all-electric vehicles could create over 150,000 jobs by 2030 if policymakers make smart investments to secure U.S. leadership in EV manufacturing. The energy sector, which includes electric vehicles, grew faster than the U.S. workforce overall in 2021. The International Energy Agency estimates that the sales share of electric cars will continue to increase, with an electric car fleet of over 300 million by 2030.
That explains what Toyota is doing.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Toyota is investing approximately $13.6 billion in battery technology over the next decade, with a significant $9 billion investment in production, as part of its efforts to electrify its vehicle range. The company aims to have 10 battery production lines by 2025 and could have up to 70 production lines worldwide, producing up to 200GWh of batteries. Toyota's plans align with other car manufacturers' investment strategies, with Volkswagen and Ford both planning to produce 240GWh of batteries by 2030. Toyota, the world's largest carmaker by volume, is now taking electrification more seriously, following its early leadership in gas-electric hybrid cars with the Prius. | Source
If that’s true, they’re going to need a lot of workers
The number of people working in a large battery production line can vary depending on the size of the factory, the type of batteries being produced, and the level of automation. However, a typical large battery production line would employ between 1,000 and 3,000 people.
The majority of workers in a battery production line are involved in the assembly of the batteries. This includes tasks such as loading the cells into the battery modules, connecting the modules together, and sealing the batteries. Other workers are responsible for testing the batteries, packing them for shipping, and maintaining the production line.
In recent years, there has been a trend towards increasing automation in battery production. This is due to the fact that battery production is a complex and dangerous process, and automation can help to improve safety and efficiency. However, even with automation, there is still a need for human workers to perform a variety of tasks.
Production that would require human involvement include:
Material handling: This includes tasks such as loading and unloading raw materials, transporting them to the production area, and storing them.
Assembly: This includes tasks such as loading the cells into the battery modules, connecting the modules together, and sealing the batteries.
Testing: This includes tasks such as testing the batteries for capacity, voltage, and resistance.
Packaging: This includes tasks such as packing the batteries for shipping and labeling them.
Maintenance: This includes tasks such as cleaning and lubricating the equipment, and repairing any damage.
Quality control: This involves inspecting the batteries to ensure that they meet quality standards.
Research and development: This involves developing new battery technologies and improving existing ones.
Sales and marketing: This involves promoting the batteries to potential customers and selling them.
Show me you need more EV workers with one chart
Bottom line: The demand for these types of role is HIGH. The supply for these types of roles is LOW.
And one more thing…
Tesla is the largest Electric Vehicle seller, with over 900 thousand sold in 2021. The Tesla Model 3 is the top-selling electric vehicle. Toyota comes in as the second largest EV company, with nearly 600 thousand units sold in 2021. However, these two powerhouses are not the only game in town. Not by a longshot. Here is a list of the top 15 EV Companies in the world.
AdCounty Media plans to hire 150 professionals as part of its global expansion plan
AdCounty Media, a digital marketing firm, plans to hire 150 professionals as part of its global expansion plan. The company aims to expand its presence in the Middle East, Europe, and North America, and is looking to hire professionals in various roles including sales, account management, and digital marketing. AdCounty Media's CEO states that the company's growth in recent years has been significant, and they expect to continue expanding with these new hires. | Source
Contacts:
Abbhinav R Jain, Co-Founder & COO
Delphin Varghese, Co-Founder
Monika Pareek, HR Executive
Oh, Canada!
CANADA - Kepler Communications, a satellite communications company, has raised $92 million in a Series C funding round to expand its real-time satellite data relay network. The funding was led by The Public Sector Pension Investment Board and included participation from existing investors. Kepler plans to use the funds to launch more satellites and develop new technologies to enhance its communications services, particularly in the areas of IoT and autonomous vehicles. Kepler's network currently provides connectivity for a range of applications, including maritime and land-based services, as well as for other satellites. | Source
Potential revenue opportunities:
Workers needed to develop new tech for communications services.
Workers needed with experience in IOT and autonomous vehicles.
Contacts:
Rebrand, Rebrand again, and… Rebrand again
Creator CRM company, Pico, has rebranded to Hype and has raised $10 million in a recent funding round. The company provides tools for creators and influencers to manage their online presence and monetize their content. With the rebrand, Hype aims to expand its offerings beyond CRM and into a full-stack platform for creators. The funding will be used to accelerate product development and grow the team, including hiring for positions such as engineering and product management. The article suggests that the company's rebrand and funding round indicate that they are ramping up for further growth and expansion. | Source
FYI: They have a Director of Marketing on their leadership page, but not a CMO. Maybe they could use a fractional one? This rebrand is their 3rd rebranding by the way.
Contacts:
Nick Chen, Co-Founder
Jason Bade, Co-Founder
Addy Mendoza, Director of Operations
Ikea plans to open 17 new stores across America in a major push to expand its U.S. business
IKEA, a furniture retail company, is planning to open several new stores across the United States. The company has announced plans to open seventeen new stores in cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, among others. The expansion is part of IKEA's larger strategy to bring their products closer to customers and increase their overall presence in the US market. Ikea expects the additional outlets will create a total of 2,000 jobs. The company will also create 900 new pick-up locations where customers can collect their online orders. | Source
Contacts:
Lauren Phipps, People & Culture
Maria Novak, Talent Sourcing & EVP Leader
All aboard!
Union Pacific, a railroad company, is offering a $50,000 sign-on bonus for new train crew employees in Wyoming. The company is looking to hire up to 400 train crew members in the state, including conductors and engineers. The sign-on bonus is part of Union Pacific's efforts to attract new talent to the company and address a shortage of train crew members. The sign-on bonus could be seen as a signal that Union Pacific is preparing for growth and expansion, and is willing to invest in attracting and retaining employees to achieve that growth. The sign-on bonus is $40,000 for new hires who are less than 300 miles away from the the three listed locations in Wyoming. An additional $10,000 is available to those who relocate from further away than that. | Source
Note: Here’s the catch, while Union Pacific’s bonus sounds very attractive, those who work in the industry say there are reasons outside of the tight labor market that explain why the railroad is struggling to hire.
Contacts:
Dan Culbertson, Sr, Director, Talent Acquisition
Tonya Eggspuehler, Assistant Vice President Talent Management
SAP adds new business units and APJ leaders
SAP, a multinational software corporation, has added new business units and leaders for the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region in order to expand its presence in the market. The new business units include the Intelligent Spend Group, Customer Experience, and SAP Concur. The leaders appointed to head these units are expected to drive growth and innovation in the APJ region. SAP's move to expand its business units and leadership in the APJ region is part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen its market position and increase its customer base in the region. | Source
Note: New business units need people to make them operate. Good luck.
Contacts:
Peter Moore, SVP and Head of Enterprise Cloud
Sushant Jain, SVP | SAP Spend Management
Liher Urbizu, COO at SAP APJ
Modular Building Manufacturer Bringing 100 Jobs to Hamden
FullStack Modular will move its headquarters from Brooklyn, New York to Hamden, according to a release from the company. The company designs, manufactures, and constructs mid- and high-rise multi-family buildings, hotels, and student housing, according to the release. FullStack Modular will set up its new U.S. headquarters at 30 Edmund Street in Hamden. The company said it will invest between $8-$12 million into Connecticut and expects to bring at least 100 new jobs to the state. | Source
Contacts:
Roger Krulak, CEO
Douglass Cissna, Director of Operations
War Profits, Security Concerns
The ongoing war in Ukraine is driving increased demand for weapons and military equipment, leading to a shortage of skilled workers in the weapons manufacturing industry. Major weapons manufacturers such as Raytheon Technologies Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp. are struggling to hire enough workers to meet the increased demand, as many potential employees are hesitant to work in the defense industry due to ethical concerns or other factors. The shortage of skilled workers could lead to delays and increased costs for weapons programs, as well as potential security risks if manufacturers are unable to meet demand for critical military equipment. | Source
Contacts:
Steve Schulz, Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Raytheon
Tarricke Mills, HR Director at Raytheon
Renu Aggarwal, Director, Global Talent Acquisition at Lockheed Martin
Sydney Garber, Director of HR at Lockheed Martin
Super.com Raises $85M in Series C Funding
Super.com, a San Francisco, CA-based savings app company, raised $85M in Series A funding. The round was led by Inovia Capital. New investors in this round include Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify, Deb Liu, CEO of Ancestry.com, Allen Shim, former CFO of Slack, Josh Proctor, CFO of the Golden State Warriors, Chris Best, CEO of SubStack, Neha Narkhede, CTO at Confluent, and Mike Lee, co-founder of MyFitnessPal, Hyphen Capital, EDC, as well as Plaza Ventures. These joined existing investors Telstra Ventures, Acrew, Lion Capital, Full In Partners, NBA superstar Steph Curry and more. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach. | Source
Contacts:
Hussein Fazal, CEO
Henry Shi, COO
M & A Made Sega’s Day
Sega's recent acquisition of Rovio, a mobile game developer known for its popular Angry Birds franchise, has raised speculation that the gaming industry may see a return to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the near future. The gaming industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, and many companies are seeking to expand their market share through strategic acquisitions. Sega's acquisition of Rovio is seen as a positive sign for the industry, as it suggests that companies are willing to invest in M&A deals despite the ongoing economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The acquisition also highlights the growing importance of mobile gaming in the industry, as more consumers turn to mobile devices for their gaming needs. | Source
Contacts:
Will Meek, Senior Director, HR at SEGA
Reni Dimitrova, Senior HR Business Partner at SEGA
FYI: A few stats from Recruiter.com.
The overall job outlook for Video Game Designer careers has been positive since 2019. Vacancies for this career have increased by 5.31 percent nationwide in that time, with an average growth of 5.31 percent per year. Demand for Video Game Designers is expected to go up, with an expected 32,090 new jobs filled by 2029.
In recent years, Video Game Designers have the highest job vacancies and job growth rate in the following states:
Arkansas +30.61 %
Tennessee +28.74 %
Colorado +24.49 %
Washington +20.77 %
Puerto Rico +20.00 %
North Carolina +17.97 %
Maryland +16.09 %
Keep an eye on this…
The US Congress has started the process of repealing President Biden's two-year pause on solar panel tariffs. The pause was implemented in 2021 to review the trade policies and investigate any national security threats related to the import of solar panels. If the repeal is successful, it could lead to lower prices for solar panels and an increase in demand for solar installations, manufacturing, and sales, which could have positive implications for the solar industry and the economy as a whole. What does it mean for recruiting? Potentially, cheaper solar panels could translate into more solar panel installations and more solar panel installations and more solar panel selling which all require more people. Make sense? | Source
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