Pathways to Apprenticeship
Submitted by Michelle Dreier,
Member Engagement/Gov't Affairs Manager
With a rapidly aging workforce, the Electrical Association is developing multiple pathways into the industry. For years, EA has worked with community-based organizations bringing members new talent and sharing the great aspects of being an electrician. Some staggering statistics were released at the latest Board of Electricity meeting. The average age of a licensed electrician is 58, with only 13% of licensed electricians being under the age of 35. This coupled with the BLS statistic that we will lose 40% of our construction workforce by 2030 both resonates and paints a very dire picture of the future. We have a lot of work to do, immediately.
Individuals coming to the association looking for entry-level apprenticeship tend to be looking for a second career or received a college degree and things don’t seem to be working out for them in their chosen field of education. Anecdotally, people looking to enter the industry are in the 26-35 year old age demographic. We are missing the 18-26 year olds.
The past several months we’ve been focusing on youth in the trades and growing our relationships with programs that teach youth skills in construction.
An organization based out of Louisiana called
unCommon Construction, just opened a satellite organization in NE Minneapolis. See this Mike Rowe spot on the founder of unCommon Construction (VIDEO at
http://tiny.cc/oj62vz). Students at Exploration High School will be building a tiny home as part of this program.
(Mike Rowe with unCommon Construction)
GoSolar Kidz is also looking for partnership with the Electrical Association. They provide solar training in the schools and will have a mobile lab by early next year.
We continue relationships with
ISD 916,
Youthbuild and
Lake Street Works. We are looking to grow relationships with
Hutchinson School District,
Guadelupe Alternative Programs,
Spring Lake Park,
MIGIZI and
STEP.
Post Secondary Education Option (PSEO) for high schoolers in electrical or construction is another solution to potentially attract more youth.
If we could somehow get youth halfway through a construction electrician tech school program prior to graduation that would both solidify a pathway into the workforce as well as bring the industry young individuals who are more productive sooner.
MENTORS! We’re always looking for mentors to help spread about the word about what a great place the electrical industry is to work. Are you mentoring a program in your community? Let us know! (
[email protected])
Let us know how the Electrical Association can best help your business navigate change.
(612) 827-6117