When people talk about workforce development in Washington, it often sounds like a policy debate. But for me, apprenticeship is not a policy. It’s personal.

Long before I had the privilege of leading NECA, I was an apprentice electrician. I was a young man trying to figure out my future, and apprenticeship gave me something incredibly powerful: a path. Not just to a job—but to a career, a craft and a life.

That’s why National Apprenticeship Week matters so much to me. From April 26 to May 2, employers, educators, unions, industry leaders and policymakers across the country will celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, highlighting how Registered Apprenticeship programs create real opportunities for American workers and help employers build the skilled workforce our economy needs. The 2026 theme, “America at Work: Making America Skilled Again Through Registered Apprenticeship,” captures exactly what these programs represent: the rebuilding of America’s skilled workforce. But for many of us in the electrical industry, apprenticeship isn’t just something we celebrate once a year. It’s the foundation of everything we do.

The electrical trade is one of the most demanding and technical professions in the construction industry. Electricians build and maintain the systems that power our homes, hospitals, factories, data centers and critical infrastructure. You don’t learn how to do that overnight. You learn it the way generations before us did—through apprenticeship.

When I started my own apprenticeship, I learned from people who took the time to teach the technical side of the trade as well as the values behind it: pride in your work, responsibility for the safety of others and the importance of doing the job right. Those lessons stay with you for life.

Today, our nation faces a growing shortage of skilled workers across many industries, especially in the construction trades. At the same time, our country is entering an era that will require more electrical infrastructure than ever before, from modernizing the power grid to building the facilities that support advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and energy development. Meeting that demand will require thousands of new electricians.

The good news is that apprenticeship works. Registered Apprenticeship programs combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction, allowing individuals to earn while they learn and graduate with the skills needed for high-demand careers. These programs have helped train hundreds of thousands of workers across the country while creating a reliable talent pipeline for employers.

For the electrical industry, apprenticeship is our culture. Every apprentice represents the future of our profession. Every graduate represents another skilled professional who will help build the infrastructure that powers America.

When I meet apprentices today, I often see a reflection of where I started: someone eager to learn, ready to work hard and looking for an opportunity. Apprenticeship gave me that opportunity, and it continues to open doors to thousands of Americans every year.

As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, I hope more young people discover what I did many years ago: that the skilled trades offer not just good jobs, but meaningful careers. Careers where you can build something real, where you can see the results of your work in the communities around you and where you can take pride in knowing that what you built will last.

For me, it all started with an apprenticeship. And I believe the future of America’s skilled workforce will too.

David Long
NECA CEO