Much of the news about electric vehicles tends to be about the vehicles themselves, but there’s very little about the people who make them. However, a couple of days ago, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker shared many details and comments about investing in innovation and jobs, with specific information about Rivian. What jumped out the most is the fact that Rivian’s work has created many, many jobs. “Illinois has continued supporting the advancement of Rivian to cultivate long-term growth and further strengthen the state’s EV manufacturing ecosystem. In 2024, Governor Pritzker joined Rivian to announce a historic $1.5 billion investment from the company to build its R2 model at its Normal facility and create more than 550 full-time jobs. Then, in 2025, Governor Pritzker and Rivian announced the construction of a new 1.2 million-square-foot supplier park across the highway from the manufacturing plant, a $120 million investment from Rivian, which enabled the company to create nearly 100 new direct jobs.” The total Rivian employee headcount is about 14,000 — but they don’t all live and work in Illinois. Buying an EV also supports the expansion of public EV charging infrastructure, because EVs need to be charged in public sometimes and there is a growing demand for public chargers. Many people work on EV charger installation, others help to manufacture chargers, and still others have jobs supporting their supply chains. Electric vehicles are a solution to greenhouse gas emissions, toxic air pollution, geopolitical instability related to fossil fuels, corrupt politics, disastrous oil spills, oil and gas price volatility, and so on. Electric vehicle jobs help the planet and help people to be healthier, and such jobs are often more meaningful than working a standard 9-5 that may not contribute to the greater good. The National Governors Association has published some myth-busting facts about EV jobs. One is that an engineering degree is required, which is not true. “Global electric car sales topped 17 million in 2024, accounting for over 20% of all new cars sold. This surge is creating high-demand, well-paying roles across the EV industry, many of which don’t require a four-year degree. Short-term training programs, apprenticeships and community college pathways provide direct access into careers ranging from EV maintenance to battery manufacturing. “From wiring and mechanical assembly to safety protocols, the industry values hands-on skills and experience often more than formal degrees. Competency-based training and industry certifications offer job seekers efficient pathways into these growing careers, saving both time and the cost of traditional higher education.” There’s another EV jobs connection. Though, it may not get much attention. Electric vehicles can be run on electricity from solar power, wind power, hydropower, and geothermal — all generated in the region. Globally, over 16 million people work in the renewable energy field. Clean, renewable electricity is often used by EVs. Those 16 million renewable energy workers support electric vehicle use, and they will do so more and more. When EV owners use clean, renewable electricity, they are not buying gas, diesel fuel, natural gas, or coal-based electricity, so they are providing financial support to the renewable energy industry and its workforce. Some renewable energy workers also own and operate EVs. Similarly, some EV owners support the solar power industry by buying solar panels for their homes.
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