The NewAmerican Frontier
Job Training for the Next Technological Age
A forward-looking blueprint for job training in the age of AI, from the front lines of technological change.
The view from the edge of the learning curve. New technologies are changing the labor market. What can we learn about new jobs from the regions where they landed first?
The view from the edge of the learning curve
New technologies are changing the labor market
New technologies are changing the labor market
What can we learn about new jobs from the regions where they landed first?
What can we learn about new jobs from the regions where they landed first?
Batteries
Batteries store and deliver energy for electric vehicles, renewable generation, grid stability, industrial operations, data centers, and defense systems.
Industry
Batteries
Michigan (MI), US
Batteries in the Rust Belt (Michigan)
Outside Lansing, Michigan has placed a $2.6B+ bet on lithium-ion batteries spanning EVs, energy storage, and data centers. The New American Frontier follows a new 1,700-job plant in Lansing, the rollercoaster of starts and stops that has followed, and educators trying to build pipelines that survive the cycles.
Top Jobs in Batteries without a BA
Priority jobs for the New American Frontier are accessible (no BA Required) and pay well (above median wages)
Source: Authors' analysis; Revelio Labs; Methodology
Batteries Fast Facts
$100 billion
American Clean Power Association pledged to invest by 2030 to build and buy batteries made in the United States
45,726
associate's degrees at 3,633 institutions
186,386
certificates at 5,482 institutions
Awarded in battery-relevant fields (industrial mechanics, electronics, and automation) in the U.S. in 2024
31%
Roles accessible without a BA
$43,000–$68,000
Typical annual pay for non-BA jobs
Source: Authors' analysis; IPEDS; Revelio Labs; Utility Dive; Methodology
Technology Overview
Batteries store and deliver energy for electric vehicles, renewable generation, grid stability, industrial operations, data centers, and defense systems.
Technology Use Cases
Lithium-ion (currently commercial up to 4 hours)
Used in consumer electronics, stationary energy storage and electric vehicles. LFP batteries have lower range but higher thermal stability and lower cost, well suited for applications that require long cycle life and strong safety performance.
Redox flow (6–36 hours)
Uses liquid electrolytes stored in large tanks instead of compact cells. Designed for stationary use on the grid to store renewable energy (e.g. wind, solar) for several hours at a time.
Solid-state
Enables higher energy density, enhanced safety, and faster charging; but limited by technical and financial barriers to date.
Economic and National Security Implications
Economic competitiveness
Batteries allow renewable power to be stored and dispatched when generation is low, increasing grid reliability and renewable penetration. They stabilize voltage and frequency for critical infrastructure such as hospitals, data centers, and manufacturing facilities. In transportation, improved batteries extend vehicle range, reduce fueling costs, and lower demand for imported oil.
National security implications
Today, the U.S. imports most battery cells and nearly all processed materials such as cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese, and nickel, and other critical minerals. China controls about 70% of finished battery production. They also control 18% of the world's mined lithium, and 79% of natural graphite. Chinese companies own 80% of cobalt production in Congo-Kinshasa, where more than half of global cobalt production is located.
Example Jobs without a BA
| Job title | Also known as… | What this role does | Sample skills | Common credentials | Ex. Employers | Est. Pay Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembler | Assembly line worker; Crew; Assembly worker; Assembly Technician; Production Associate | Operate production lines that assemble battery cells and modules | Semi-automated assembly equipment operation; Materials handling and line loading; Cleanroom practices | N/A | Magna Mirrors, Panasonic, Natron Energy | $43,000 - $59,000 |
| Maintenance Technician | Robotics Technician, Equipment Maintenance Technician | Maintain equipment and address equipment failures during production | Troubleshooting production equipment; Mechanical, electrical repair | Certificate in Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology | Panasonic, Magna International, Redwood Materials | $51,000 - $68,000 |
| Electrician | Industrial Electrician; Journeyman Electrician | Install and maintain electrical systems that power automated battery production lines | Panel inspection and testing; Installation and maintenance of industrial electrical systems | Electrician Certificate or Associates; Certificate in Electrical/Electronics Equipment Installation and Repair Technology | NV Energy, American Battery Solutions Inc., Ford-Werke GmbH | $49,000 - $61,000 |
Battery Education in the Rust Belt
Lansing Community College (LCC) (Michigan)
Associate of Applied Science and Certificate in Mechanical Systems; Associate of Applied Science in Mechatronics; 3-week Modern Warehousing course
LCC’s Manufacturing Center of Excellence provides associate’s degrees and certificates in mechanical systems and mechatronics, and certificates in robotics and automated technology. These programs prepare students for roles such as robotics technicians, mechanical engineering technicians, and electro-mechanical technicians. The Center for Cybersecurity and Information Technology work alongside the manufacturing faculty to address digital systems and automation in industrial operations. LCC also provides short-term training at the Job Training Center (JTC), which includes noncredit programming for battery facilities like LG and Ultium such as Modern Warehousing.
Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) (Kansas)
Operator Registered Apprenticeship; Automation Engineer Technology Associate of Applied Science
KCKCC offers a 16-credit Operator Registered Apprenticeship certificate program focused on making electric vehicles in partnership with Panasonic Energy Corporation. The apprenticeship program consists of a subset of courses in the Automation Engineer Technology degree, including safety, circuits, industrial fluid power, and programmable logic controllers.