Is There a Shortage of Electricians? Learn More About The Skills Gap
Electricity is crucial to just about everything we do, but the people who install, maintain, and fix the electrical grid are in short supply. For a variety of reasons—from electricians aging out of the profession to fewer young people entering it — there is a shortage of electricians in the U.S. and electrical careers are seeing a boom in demand. Are you looking for an in-demand career with solid long-term prospects? Becoming an electrician could help you build a bright future.
Understanding the Electrician Labor Shortage
One factor contributing to the national electrician shortage is the number of electricians who are retiring or close to retirement. According to the National Electrical Contractors Association, nearly 30% of union electricians are at or close to retirement age. As people leave the profession, they create openings for new workers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there will be an increase in available electrician jobs of more than 84,000 over the decade1.
The pandemic, which halted the growth of many industries, also factored into the shortage of electricians. Trades are a hands-on profession that can’t be learned remotely through online courses. It requires face-to-face training with skilled instructors or licensed professionals. But with mandates for limited to no contact in place, it was difficult for the next generation of electricians to train for their new careers. As the pipeline of new workers slowed during the pandemic, it created a larger gap in the workforce.
According to the BLS, green power sources have also increased the demand for electricians. As more alternative power sources such as solar and wind energy become popular, the need for electricians who can connect our infrastructure to the new technologies’ increases2.
Benefits of Becoming an Electrician
If the idea of sitting behind a desk all day stresses you out even more than being without power, a career in the trades may be the perfect choice for you. And becoming an electrician provides its own unique rewards. Check out the top 5 benefits of becoming an electrician.
1. Electricians Can Earn While They Learn
Once you have trained to be an electrician, you can become an electrician apprentice which allows you to learn, earn, and acquire the hours you need to become a journeyman. The amount you can earn will vary based on where you live. For example, if you live in Connecticut, the average salary for an electrician apprentice is more than $56,0003 and in New York, it’s $52,2104. Your path to licensure will also vary by location. For example, in Pennsylvania, there is no state-wide licensing requirement, but each municipality has its own regulations.
2. Electricians Have Job Security
With the shortage of electricians, renewable energy sources coming onto the grid, and anticipated demand across the industry, your job as an electrician is likely to be secure through the decade. Demand for electricians is expected to be much higher than average1.
3. Electricians Work at Varied Locations
As an electrician, you often work in the field, traveling to different job sites to install, maintain, and repair electrical systems. You might work on construction sites, in factories, at businesses, or private residences. Your specialization will often determine what your day-to-day might look like. For example, if you work as a residential electrician, you can expect to spend your time indoors, servicing homes and apartments. But as an industrial electrician, you work in factories and manufacturing plants. And as a commercial electrician, you might be the go-to person at a hospital or school.
4. Electricians Have Career Advancement Opps
You might start out as a student and then move to an apprentice role, but there is plenty of opportunity for growth as an electrician. Once you have the requisite hours required by your state or municipality, you can sit for your journeymen’s exam. With time and experience, you can attain the hours you need to test for a master electrician license. As a master electrician, you have the highest-level license and can supervise apprentices, journeymen, and even other electricians. You may even decide to venture out on your own. About 7 percent of electricians are self-employed5.
5. Electrician Careers Are Highly Ranked
Electricians are well-regarded and the job is ranked #1 in construction jobs, #3 in best jobs without a college degree, and #7 as a highest-paid job without a degree6, according to US News and World Report.
How to Start a Career as an Electrician
If a career as an electrician feels like the right fit for you, you can start by completing a training program at a trade school. Choose a school where the instructors have years of experience as tradespeople so they can provide you with hands-on technical training as well as valuable insights from the industry. You can practice your electrical work in a lab setting with industrial tools and equipment. The lab is a great safety net for beginners because it allows you to make mistakes without any serious consequences. You also learn the best practices for safety and how you should dress on the job to keep safe while learning and on the job.
After you complete a training program, you can become an electrician apprentice. Under the supervision of a journeyman or master electrician, you can begin to work on real electrical systems for homes and commercial buildings.
Are you interested in a career as an electrician? Contact Lincoln Tech today. We offer electrical and electronic systems training programs that provides 1,200 hours of instruction to prepare you to enter the field as an electrician apprentice. Our faculty have years of experience in the industry and can provide the hands-on instruction that can help you succeed in your career. Fill out the form to learn more.
1 BLS Job Outlook https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm#tab- Retrieved Sept 13, 2024.
2 BLS Job Outlook https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm#tab-6 Retrieved October 18, 2024.
3 O*Net Online https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/47-3013.00?st=CT Retrieved October 18, 2024.
4 O*Net Online https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/47-3013.00?st=NY Retrieved October 18, 2024.
5 BLS Work Environment https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm#tab-3 Retrieved October 21, 2024.
6 US News and World Report https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/electrician Retrieved October 22, 2024 .