EVs could boost Australia’s GDP by $2.9 billion by 2030: report

A 50 percent uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030 could boosts Australia’s GDP by $2.9 billion according to a new report.

The report by iMove Cooperative Research Centre and Swinburne University highlighted that the EV industry could also create 13,400.

The iMove report highlighted the need to upskill its workforce for automation and digitalisation in the transport sector to create new job opportunities and stay competitive among OECD countries.

Transport digitalisation and automation - fuelled by technologies such as connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), EVs, and blockchain - will significantly impact the industry, the report noted.

It highlighted that some jobs will change or become obsolete.

It also identified many new job opportunities - for example, fleet service technicians, transport aides, and software engineering, which will require upskilling the workforce with the right skills.

The report outlines key digital and automation skills expected to be in high demand, including knowledge of autonomous robots, simulation tools, IoT solutions, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. The report also emphasises the importance of soft skills, such as critical thinking, communication, and complex problem-solving.

Ian Christensen, managing director at iMove CRC said automated vehicles and digitalisation in the transport sector are set to redefine the workforce, creating both opportunities and challenges.

“While some tasks could be redefined in the longer term, the demand for other jobs or skills is also expected to rise,” he said.

“The report is an important first step to understanding how we proceed by acknowledging autonomous technologies, digitalisation, employment, and workforce development intertwine with educational programs.”

Christensen said by investing in digital skills training and fostering a collaborative environment, Australia can take advantage of these new opportunities and create a more resilient and future-ready transport workforce.

The report calls for a nationally orchestrated approach to address the digital skills gap, including updated secondary and tertiary training, tax breaks and credits for employer-based training, a national grants program, and a national digital literacy curriculum.

More broadly in the transport sector, the report highlights 18 occupations facing high automation probability, and which will result in changing skills needs in those areas.

The report said by addressing data gaps, co-designing training courses and materials, and developing a framework for digital skills by occupation in transport and freight sectors, Australia can ensure its workforce is well-equipped for the future.

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