The moving assembly line is a symbol of the car industry.
The story of autoworkers is one of both triumph and despair. The explosive growth in automotive manufacturing after World War II brought steady jobs to many Americans, but eventually the growth in cheap foreign competition forced automakers to cut a good number of those jobs. Today, many are still employed in America's auto industry. However, it is likely that future jobs for autoworkers will be in alternative vehicle manufacturing rather than traditional auto manufacturing.
Job Growth
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), between 2008 and 2018, job growth for autoworkers is expected to be slower than the average for all occupations, while job growth for high-end car engineers and designers is expected to be strong. While some jobs in the automotive industry will disappear, many autoworkers will retire in the 2008 to 2018 period, meaning that there will be some opportunities for new workers to find jobs in the industry. Growth is expected to be strong in battery and motor engine development related to electric cars.
Change in Focus
Car manufacturing is expected to change between 2011 and 2021. As increasing scarcity drives oil prices higher and higher, demand will increase for low-cost electric alternatives. A lot of engineering effort will be put into designing electric cars, and this push is expected to create more than 40,000 American jobs by 2020. These jobs will be in engineering, manufacturing and marketing; electric car technology is new, and much work must be done to develop and distribute it.
Emphasis on Training
To keep up with changes in the auto industry, autoworkers may need to undergo retraining. According to DTE Energy Chief Anthony Earley, most of the jobs that will be generated in the electric car business by 2020 will be for engineers rather than laborers. So, for workers to keep up with changes in the industry, they may need to obtain credentials that are relevant to design-end work. Trained engineers may benefit from upgrading their degrees with courses on alternative energy and electrical engineering.
Benefits
Many autoworkers who are laid off will get some benefits from their unions. Workers with the United Auto Workers union have first choice of new openings with their employers in the event of being laid off from their current position. Many car companies offer severance packages to laid-off workers; for example, in 2006, Ford set aside more than $200 million in severance and buyout money for workers.
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