As California turns to electric vehicles in the fight against climate change and air pollution, there will be less and less demand for vehicle maintenance in the next decade By 2040, the state expects that California will lose nearly 32000 automotive mechanic jobs, because electric vehicles require far less maintenance and repair than traditional internal combustion engines.
In order to transform to a carbon neutral and climate friendly country, California proposes to phase out all new gasoline powered vehicles by 2035, which will promote the large-scale transformation of the labor force. According to the calculation of the California Air Resources Board, it is estimated that 64700 jobs will be lost in the whole economic field due to this task. On the other hand, other departments estimate that 24900 jobs will be added, so the estimated net loss will be 39800 jobs by 2040.
However, no labor force in the state has suffered more than auto mechanics. According to the air Committee, there are about 60910 auto service technicians and mechanics in California. If the task takes effect, more than half of these jobs will be lost in the next 20 years.
This transition will take place in stages over a decade. From 2026, 35% of new cars and light trucks sold in California will achieve zero emissions, reaching 51% by 2028, 68% by 2030 and 100% by 2035. Alex dirige, a 67 year old Guam immigrant, has worked as a mechanic in San Francisco for more than 30 years. He is worried that the transition to electric vehicles will threaten the livelihood of undocumented immigrants and other vulnerable groups, and cause many auto maintenance workers to leave the industry completely.
In California, the industry provides a stable and reliable income for many workers who do not have a university degree. According to the Bureau of labor statistics, the average hourly income of mechanics in the state is about $26, or $54190 a year. Many machinists who have started to work see that with the emergence of hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles, the automobile maintenance business has no long-term prospects, and they may choose other types of work.