South Korean battery giants face a shortage of technical talent that could drag down the global race for zero-emission vehicles

It is reported that the South Korean battery giant, which powers many of the world's electric cars, faces a shortage of technical personnel, which could be a drag on the global race for zero-emission vehicles. The big three carmakers, which account for 1/3 of the global electric vehicle (EV) battery market, say they all face a shortage of research and engineering experts because of ballooning demand for technology.

LG energy solutions companies (LGES), SK On and Samsung SDI all rank among the top six global battery manufacturers and supply batteries to Tesla, Volkswagen and Ford. However, they are facing growing demand from large carmakers and are unable to find enough trained technicians to continue to advance cutting-edge technologies such as solid-state batteries.

"while we are seeing such growth in the industry, we seem to be facing a shortage of talent," said an LSE official. " "We should not only train our own talents, but also recruit external talents."

In fact, according to the latest data from the Korea Battery Industry Association since the end of 2020, the global battery industry has doubled in size in the past five years, while South Korea lacks nearly 3000 graduate degree jobs in areas such as research and design. At present, LGES, SK On, Samsung SDI and other companies have more than 19000 employees. The battery shortage in South Korea reflects a growing talent shortage in the global battery market. According to IHS Markit, the global battery market will triple to nearly $90 billion by 2025.