• Français
Future Skills Center logo
Français
Polygon Created with Sketch. Home | Research
Research

Skills needs for workers in Ontario’s growing zero-emissions vehicles sector

Zero-emissions vehicles and battery manufacturing are growing sectors in Ontario. The province has attracted billions of dollars in investment from leading companies such as Stellantis and Volkswagen into communities like Windsor, London-St. Thomas and Kingston.Yet for the province to capture the full economic benefits of these investments, the workforce needs to be prepared to fill emerging roles.

For now, these new automotive plants offer more questions than answers: How ready are today’s automotive sector workers in these communities to fill emerging jobs? Will there be enough workers to fill all open roles? What new skills will workers need to learn? And what steps should governments, universities, colleges and technical colleges, unions, employers, and employment service providers take to position the workforce of the future for success?

In Collaboration with the Smart Prosperity Institute, we are publishing three reports that
aim to answer these questions. Our work is the product of a year-long research process involving quantitative analysis, surveys, interviews, and in-person workshops in communities around the province.

  1. Shifting gears: How Ontario’s push to manufacturing zero-emissions vehicles will impact
    the workforce     focuses on how skills and workforce needs will be influenced by changes
    in industries throughout the automotive and automotive parts manufacturing supply
    chain, driven by the transition to ZEVs.
  2. Future-proofing the automotive workforce: Supporting Ontario’s auto sector workers
    through the ZEV transition     details the barriers that workers could face at every stage of
    their careers as they look to join the sector and grow in their careers.
  3. Skills needs for zero-emissions vehicle and battery manufacturing in Ontario: Summary
    for policymakers     is a ten-page recap of the two reports’ major findings and key
    takeaways.

More from FSC

A woman in a grey blazer and a man in a blue shirt sit on wooden tiered seating, focused on a digital tablet they are holding together in a modern, sunlit atrium.
Research

Pathways to Opportunity: Addressing Barriers to Labour Force Participation in a Changing World of Work

  • April 2026
  • Blueprint ADE
Pathways to Opportunity is an evidence-informed pilot that supports social assistance clients facing complex barriers to employment. This report describes the service model, its rationale, objectives, and key elements.
1 Related Reports
A diverse group of high school students sits around a table in a bright classroom, listening to a teacher who is perched on a desk near a whiteboard with math equations.
Research

Mapping Youth Pathways from Education to Employment: What We Know and How to Strengthen Supports Across Canada

  • April 2026
  • Blueprint ADE
This brief is part of a broader effort to strengthen Canada’s understanding of how best to support youth in their journey from school to work.
1 Related Reports
Two coworkers smiling and collaborating at a computer in an office.
Research

Supporting Inclusive Work-Integrated Learning as an Employer

  • April 2026
  • Signal49 Research (formerly The Conference Board of Canada)
Work-integrated learning and placements are critical bridges to employment. Employers who offer inclusive placements can access a wider talent pool, improve retention and performance, and foster innovation through diverse perspectives.
1 Related Reports
View all Research