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?
Electric Vehicles (EVs)
EVs reduce oil dependence and lower emissions (23% of global energy-related emissions come from transport). They are also vital to global competitiveness in motor vehicle manufacturing, one of the country’s largest industrial subsectors (~5% of total jobs).
Industry
Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Austin (TX), US
The Supercharger Effect (Austin, TX)
Tesla's $5.8B Gigafactory landed in one of the country's fastest-growing advanced manufacturing hubs. Working closely with Tesla, Austin Community College scaled the company's training from zero to 1,000+ learners in under five years.
Top Jobs in EVs 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
Electric Vehicles (EVs) Fast Facts
$60B+
In domestic EV manufacturing projects announced since 2010
187,000+ manufacturing jobs across 119+ facilities associated with investments
42,551
associate's degrees at 3,331 institutions
152,815
certificates at 4,870 institutions
Awarded in EV-relevant fields (automotive mechanics, operations management, and industrial mechanics) in the U.S. in 2024
34%
Roles accessible without a BA
$38,000–$63,000
Typical annual pay for non-BA jobs
Source: Authors' analysis; IPEDS; Revelio Labs; The Big Green Machine; Methodology
Technology Overview
EVs reduce oil dependence and lower emissions (23% of global energy-related emissions come from transport). They are also vital to global competitiveness in motor vehicle manufacturing, one of the country’s largest industrial subsectors (~5% of total jobs).
Technology Use Cases
These technologies are used across passenger cars, heavy trucks, buses, and off-road and industrial sites machinery.
Plug-in Hybrid (PHEVs)
Switch from battery to gasoline once power is depleted.
Battery Electric (BEVs)
Run entirely on stored electricity.
Fuel Cell Electric (FCEVs)
Convert hydrogen to electric power. FCEVs currently constitute a small comparative market share.
Economic and National Security Implications
Economic competitiveness
Automaking is the nation’s largest manufacturing sector, accounting for about 3 percent of GDP. In 2024, more than one in five new cars sold globally was electric. Electrification is also critical to enable autonomous vehicles, which depend on electric power for sensors, computing, and recharging without human intervention.
National security implications
Auto manufacturing is a key strategic lever of the U.S. industrial base, historically able to convert to defense production during wartime. Domestic EV manufacturing reduces dependence on imported fuels and materials, as well as reliance on China, which currently produces over 70 percent of global EVs.
Example Jobs without a BA
| Job title | Also known as… | What this role does | Sample skills | Common credentials | Ex. Employers | Est. Pay Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production Associate | Assembler | Operate production lines that assemble vehicle parts | Vehicle-part assembly; Production equipment operation | N/A | Tesla, Hyliion, Hanwha Advanced Materials | $38,000 - $52,000 |
| Production Technician | Production Specialist | Monitor production equipment to keep manufacturing on track | Troubleshooting process and machine issues; Monitoring equipment | Associates or Certificate in Operations Management and Supervision | Tesla, General Motors, EnergyX | $48,000 - $54,000 |
| Maintenance Technician | Equipment Technician; Equipment Maintenance Technician; Systems Technician | Maintain equipment and address equipment failures during production | Troubleshooting mechanical, electrical, and robotic systems; Repairing high-speed automated equipment | Certificate in Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology | Tesla, Infinitum, Stealth Power | $49,000 - $63,000 |
| Automotive Technician | Repair Technician; Service Technician; Collision Technician | Repair and service electric vehicles after production | Vehicle diagnostics and repair; Service software and digital documentation; Troubleshooting electrical and mechanical systems | Certificate in Automotive Mechanics Technology; Certificate in Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology; Certificate in Automotive Engineering Technology | Tesla, General Motors, Feniex Industries | $46,000 - $56,000 |
EV Education
Austin Community College (ACC) (Texas)
Tesla Manufacturing Development Program (MDP); Tesla START Manufacturing Program; 8-10 week Certified Production Technician Program; Associate of Applied Science in Manufacturing Technology; Associate of Applied Science in Automation, Robotics and Semiconductor Technology
ACC’s Advanced Manufacturing Division operates as a single integrated unit combining both credit and noncredit programs under one department. The department offers programming to prepare students for the local manufacturing industry such as the Certified Production Technician (CPT) industry recognized program, Tesla’s MDP and START manufacturing programs, and associate degrees in Manufacturing Technology and Automation, Robotics and Semiconductor Technology. Students can begin with foundational certificate or industry-partnership programs and articulate to associates and Bachelors of Applied Technology degrees. The associate degrees prepare students as technicians, training in quality control, automated manufacturing, electronics, electric circuits, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and electromechanical systems.
Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) (Nevada)
Tesla Manufacturing Development Program (MDP); Tesla START Manufacturing Program
TMCC has short-term EV and Battery advanced manufacturing pathways in partnership with Tesla and Panasonic Energy. TMCC offers apprenticeship pathways through Tesla’s MDP focused on automation, production processes, and technical problem-solving. The Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center provides hands-on training in advanced manufacturing processes, production systems, automation, and robotics.