The Siemens Foundation announced a $30-million, 10-year initiative to drive an inclusive workforce for the electric vehicle (EV) charging sector. The program, EVeryone Charging Forward, was created in response to the rapid growth of the EV charging sector due to both public and private investment, resulting in significant demand for skilled workers across the industry.

With this workforce development initiative, Siemens Foundation seeks to ensure and scale equitable access to jobs for individuals from all backgrounds and meaningfully contribute to the decarbonization and strengthening of the US economy.

To support these goals and help state and local leaders leverage the historical workforce opportunities brought forth by federal infrastructure investments, the Siemens Foundation is collaborating with the National Governors Association’s Center for Best Practices (NGA) and the National League of Cities Institute (NLC) to build a central hub of best practices in developing a more inclusive EV charging workforce.

Together with NLC and NGA, the Siemens Foundation is partnering the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) and the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) to create accessible pathways for individuals from underserved and underrepresented communities towards well-paying, technical jobs in the EV charging sector, particularly in assembly, installation, and maintenance.

Based on research and input from leading stakeholders, the Siemens Foundation identified the Midwest and Southeast as markets of concentrated private and public sector EV investments. Focusing on Michigan and North Carolina first, EVeryone Charging Forward partners will leverage these investments to enable hundreds of individuals across both states to access EV charging job opportunities.

The $1.5 trillion investment in infrastructure from the Biden Administration presents an unprecedented opportunity for the United States to reclaim and maintain a leadership role in manufacturing while growing the clean energy economy. But, to accomplish these goals we must attract, train and retain an inclusive workforce like never before.

—David Etzwiler, CEO of Siemens Foundation

A Princeton University study estimates that somewhere between 777,000 and 5.1 million new energy-related jobs could be created in the United States by 2030. While much can be done through technology, there is a need for people on the ground across the country to install and maintain EV chargers.