Make Time to Honor the Next Generation of Electrical Professionals

It’s no secret that the electrical industry has been suffering through a skilled labor shortage for the last several years. Although the solution to this problem is certainly more complicated than it may seem at first glance, the basic dilemma is undeniably simple. Substantially more people are leaving the profession in pursuit of different career paths or through retirements than are joining the ranks to replace them. During the course of writing this column, I came upon an interesting piece. Although it’s a few years old, the research still holds merit. Read the full article to see why human resources recruiting firm Adecco maintains the ratio of those who work “skilled trades” vs. “other jobs” is reversing among younger workers.

For the last five-plus years, respondents to our annual Top 50 Electrical Contractors survey have consistently revealed that their biggest business challenge was recruiting quality employees. Last year, however, that number dropped considerably — with 51% of participating electrical contractors indicating that they experienced worker shortages in 2019 as compared to 85% who answered affirmatively in 2018 (survey results are based on the previous full year of data). This particular data point suggests the tides may be turning when it comes to the labor shortage; however, another factor — employee retention — may be in play. In 2020, 50% of respondents to the same survey said they planned to layoff workers compared to 0% the previous year. Similarly, 77% of firms planned to add employees in 2019 compared to only 29% this year. Despite this discovery, the future for electrical professionals looks overwhelmingly bright. According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of electricians is projected to grow 8% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. If you’re looking to join the electrical trade, this translates into increased salary potential, job opportunities, and incentives.

Millions of Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) retire every year. However, according to a blog posted in November by Richard Fry, a senior researcher at Pew Research Center, the pace at which this group is retiring has begun to accelerate. In the third quarter of 2020, for example, he reveals that approximately 28.6 million Baby Boomers left the workforce to retire. “This is 3.2 million more Boomers than the 25.4 million who were retired in the same quarter of 2019,” he writes. Read the full post for more perspective.

Given the finality of these inevitable retirements coupled with the challenge of attracting young professionals to the electrical trade, it seems only natural to encourage you to take a few moments to sit back and reflect on the next generation. Do any of you know young colleagues who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty, especially demonstrating innovation, efficiency, and creativity while incorporating technology into their jobs? If so, we want to hear from you! Four years ago, EC&M made a commitment to recognize the industry’s top young talent by developing the “Under 30 EC&M All Stars.” Since then, nominations for this annual honor have increased by more than 400%. Industry veterans: Please take the time to nominate a worthy young electrical professional (under 30 years of age) for this recognition. It only takes a few minutes (nominations should be 200 words or less), and it’s a win-win for everyone. Our “30 Under 30” will be featured as a special report in the May print issue, online, and in a photo gallery. Fill out the form to nominate yourself or a coworker by February 19, or email the information to [email protected].