In a Kansas City classroom, 20 students engaged in an apprenticeship program run by Panasonic, learning about basic circuit boards for electric vehicles. The $4bn EV battery factory in De Soto, Kansas, where these students will work, is expected to employ around 4,000 people. Such apprenticeship programs are seen as the future of workforce development, offering credentials aligned with employer needs. However, changes in federal policy, particularly under the Trump administration, have created uncertainty around the future of electric vehicle manufacturing.

Community colleges like Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) have been instrumental in training students for jobs in the electric vehicle industry. KCKCC, along with Johnson County Community College, collaborated with Panasonic to create a fast-track eight-week program tailored to meet immediate workforce needs. The apprenticeship programs aim to provide high-skill, high-demand jobs, with starting salaries expected to exceed $50,000.

Despite concerns over federal policy shifts impacting the electric vehicle industry, stakeholders remain optimistic about the long-term prospects. The investment in workforce training and infrastructure development for the EV battery factory has already brought economic benefits to the region, revitalizing communities and creating job opportunities. While challenges exist, stakeholders believe in the inevitability of electric vehicles and remain committed to preparing a skilled workforce for the future.

The apprenticeship programs not only offer a pathway to stable and well-paying jobs but also demonstrate the crucial role of community colleges in meeting industry demands and driving economic growth in the evolving landscape of clean energy technology.