SK battery America, the U.S. production subsidiary of SK Innovation’s battery business, has started hiring production workers to get ready for the mechanical completion and pilot production of the first plant in Georgia next year. Through this recruitment, the company aims to contribute to the revitalization of the local economy as well as the U.S. job market, which has been stagnated due to COVID-19, and to improve its competitiveness as a global top-tier.

A few months ago, SK battery America reached the first hiring milestone with the on-boarding of 60 employees including production supervisors and engineers which signalized the creation of local jobs. These employees are learning practical work skills to prepare for the initial operation of the first factory and training of future production workers.

This time, SK battery America plans to hire about 200 employees for various positions essential for actual battery manufacturing process, including production, quality, maintenance, and safety management. The company started receiving applications earlier this month. Amid the rapid growth of the global EV market, SK battery America’s recruitment is expected to boost Georgia’s growth as a leading global region in the field of EV batteries.

 ▲ SK battery America recruitment advertisement on local newspaper

SK battery America is using various online and offline channels in the area around Jackson County, Georgia, where the factory is located, to promote the recruitment in order to secure a large number of talents in the local community. The paper ads and banner ads can be found on major local newspapers such as Mainstreet News and Athens Daily from November 12^th (local time). Links to recruitment sites have also been posted on various social media channels in Commerce City, Jackson County, Georgia. The Georgia Department of Employment and Labor (GDOL) is also supporting SK battery America by showing the recruitment information on the first screen of its website.

 ▲ SK battery America Job Fair advertisement

In addition, with the support of local government, SK battery America will hold a Drive-thru Job Fair to increase applicants’ accessibility while taking into account the safety conditions required during COVID-19. Additional job fairs are also being taken into consideration in case of great interest.

Furthermore, Georgia Quick Start⁽¹⁾ is supporting the recruitment by providing free training to SK battery America in the Athens area, near the location of the battery plant. Quickstart and Lanier Technical College⁽²⁾ are the two partners that joined an educational agreement regarding the training of 2,600 new jobs with SK battery America.

(1) Quick Start: Georgia’s internationally acclaimed economic development program that provides customized workforce training at no cost to qualified businesses in Georgia

(2) Lanier Technical College: provides technical and adult education to support the economic development and well-being of the people, communities, and companies of various counties including Jackson County

 ▲ The employees of SK battery America participate in Quick Start training program

SK Innovation is building the first and second EV battery plants in Commerce City, Jackson County, Georgia, with an investment of 2.6 billion USD. The first plan is expected to start operating in 2021 and mass production in 2022. Including 200 workers to be hired this time, about 1,000 jobs will be added at the end of next year, and about 2,600 jobs will be created for the US locals by the end of 2023 when the second plant starts mass production.

Jackson County predicted that along with the direct economic effect brought by SK Innovation’s large-scale investment, over the next five about 10,000 new jobs could be created additionally in the region, creating wages worth of about 429 billion USD.