Hiring continues for hundreds of NextStar EV jobs, as locals look for training, opportunities | CBC News

As hiring ramps up at the new NextStar battery plant in Windsor, Ont., there are plenty of hopefuls looking to get their foot in the door for EV jobs. 

In a July update, a Stellantis spokesperson said they have hired for 325 of the plant’s estimated 2,500 jobs. Production is expected to begin this fall with module operations, followed by battery cell operations in 2025. 

“A project of this size requires collaboration with every stakeholder, beginning with strong support from all levels of government, combined with extensive planning, significant technological resources and a diverse, highly skilled workforce,” said Danies Lee, CEO of NextStar Energy, in a statement.

NextStar is a joint venture between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution. 

Windsorites seeking more training in hopes of battery plant jobs

The company says construction on the module building and installation of equipment there is almost complete. The exterior construction of the cell building is about 90 per cent finished and interior construction and equipment installation have started there too.

Devon Kennedy is training to be a pre-apprenticeship electrician. She says she’s pursuing training in the hopes of getting a job at the battery plant or similar industrial job. 

“I think that there’ll definitely be some security with continual work. It won’t be something that is kind of up in the air,” she said

“It’s gonna be a big new thing kind of coming to Windsor. And we’re the [automotive capital of Canada] and this is a new type of thing that’s going to be booming. It’s part of our future.”

Kennedy’s training, and others’, is through a partnership between St. Clair College and the Women’s Enterprise Skills Training (WEST) of Windsor. 

The program is aimed specifically at getting women pre-apprenticeship electrical training. There are about 20 women enrolled, many of whom say they’d love to work at NextStar. 

“I’m a single mom and I’ve worked three jobs continuously to try to raise my children,” said Bonnie Clerouix, one of the students in the program. “I want one good job.”

The dean of engineering at St. Clair College says these students and others are well-positioned for EV and NextStar jobs. 

“There are … students from multiple programs at the college here, whether it’s electrical techniques, this program, our millwright program, any one of those programs, any students that graduate from those programs would have some qualifications for what the EV plant is looking for,” said Lido Zuccato. 

“They may have to be trained on some other stuff, which we have some programs [for] … But it’s definitely a foot in the door, no matter what program.”

WATCH: What the deal to resume construction at Windsor’s NextStar Energy means

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Zuccato says it’s the third year they’ve run this program with WEST and the success rate of getting women into the trades has been high.

“So really it’s, from here, where do they want to go?,” Zuccato said. “They may choose to stay in electrical, they may choose to do something else, but they’ve experienced a trade and, you know, the main thing is building confidence in working with their hands.”

EV jobs website used by 1,700 so far: Talent specialist

The company advertised the first round of hiring for more than 130 positions late last year. 

In anticipation of the influx of battery jobs, Invest WindsorEssex created a website, evcareers.ca, last year to help applicants connect with openings. 

Jessica McCarthy, talent acquisition specialist for Invest WindsorEssex, says they have more than 1,700 people registered for the site, though she couldn’t say how many of the people hired at the plant were hired through the site. 

They’ve taken the website to colleges and universities across southwestern Ontario, and advertised it throughout Windsor-Essex. 

People can apply directly through the site, which also connects applicants with a recruiter who will be in touch to talk about skills and qualifications to pre-screen applicants ahead of interviews. 

She says there are a wide variety of skills — from electrical to engineering to mechanical and general labour — that will be needed at NextStar. 

“NextStar is a fantastic partner and we’re very lucky to have them in our region. They have a great workforce.”

McCarthy said the site will be active until at least next March.