All over the country, our industry faces one common challenge: we do not have enough skilled workers to take on the projects in front of us. This has been a concern for many years, and it has only grown in its urgency as the...
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that the 2021 National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) will be celebrated November 15–21. The weeklong celebration is designed to allow labor and business leaders, educational...
According to a report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Washington, D.C., the number of women employed in the construction industry in the United States grew slightly in 2020, increasing to approximately...
The solar industry, one of the fastest growing industries in the world, has experienced an average annual growth rate of 42% over the last decade, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Washington, D.C...
Artificial intelligence, wearables and other smart devices enable contractors to maintain safer job sites, said Jerry Rivera, safety director for NECA’s Washington, D.C., chapter. I caught up with Rivera to learn more about...
Electrical contractors have known for a number of years that they need to either introduce or improve existing recruiting strategies to bring workers into the trade. The demand for electricians continues to increase, while...
Deborah Kelly, a former line constructor in Alaska, loved her work. Until recently, she climbed utility poles with a mostly male crew, doing the heavy work of outdoor line construction and repair in all weather. She couldn’t...
Recently, I presented a webinar, “How Investing in Your Employees Pays Off.” We conducted a poll and asked the participants what their company’s No. 1 asset is. To little surprise, the overwhelming response was employees. If...
Last year could not have been predicted. There was a pandemic that shut down the worldwide economy, climate change impacts and unprecedented numbers of protests calling for racial justice. In light of the Black Lives Matter...
E lectrical contractors are known for having robust apprenticeship programs for people entering the trade—but what about mentoring up-and-coming professionals for future executive positions? Industry experts share various...
Employers are increasingly recognizing the value of STEM education in the development of capable students who will eventually be qualified workers. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math—four academic...
According to a recent survey published by Newsweek, Dunwoody College of Technology, Minneapolis, is ranked 20th in the nation in terms of graduates who earn the highest amount of money with their community college degrees...
The seventh annual Union Craft Labor Supply Survey done by The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC), Arlington, Va., is underway for 2021, and NECA is encouraging its members to participate. TAUC is a trade association...
More women are entering the construction industry—in some places more so than others. Construction Coverage ranked U.S. cities based on the share of women in the industry, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Suitland, Md...
As I often hear these days, we live in interesting times. The times prove interesting for many reasons, but none less so than the fact that by the year 2030 our demographics will change markedly. By 2030, the baby boomer...
The difficulty electrical contractors face every time they attempt to find and attract talented new people dates back further than the oldest tool in their warehouse. It’s always been that way, in good times or bad. Since the...
Every contractor I speak to says good help is hard to find. Because of this overarching problem, contractors are resorting to “stealing” help (at higher wages) from their competitors. Because the hair I have left is gray, I...
With widespread labor shortages and a growing skills gap looming, electrical contracting firms have had to turn over every stone to identify and attract prospective workers. From promoting job opportunities at the middle...
Contractors are increasingly getting involved in workforce development initiatives aimed to attract more millennials and Gen Zers to the industry. In California, an industry coalition is stepping up recruitment efforts with...
It’s common knowledge that electrical contractors are under increasing pressure in today’s competitive business landscape—from labor shortages and an influx of new technology to the drive for greater efficiency and more. The...
