Julie scooped ice cream at Baskin-Robbins. Tim took orders and cleaned bathrooms at McDonald’s. Matt poured sodas and told kids his own age to get their feet off of the seats at a Cinemark. Hannah was a cashier at a...

I want to begin this month’s column with a few questions: What was the last conference or convention you attended? Was it affiliated with the National Electrical Contractors Association? One of the things I have enjoyed most...

In keeping with this month’s theme of workforce development, I was asked to write about electricians becoming estimators. No problem. Electrical estimating has been a great career for me. Anyone with field experience as an...

With more electricians currently exiting the workforce than joining, the electrical construction industry faces a well-documented shortage of skilled labor—to the tune of an estimated 85,000-plus unfilled positions by 2024,...

The construction industry as a whole faces a shortage in labor supply that is expected to get worse. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 13 percent overall increase in construction jobs through 2024 and a 5...

Many electrical contractors are plagued by a short-sighted view of workforce development, thinking that employee education and training falls outside their responsibility. They expect field electricians and office staff to...

There is no better time than the holiday season to celebrate the successes of 2018 as well as to look forward and plan for the new year to come. While our achievements have been many, there is still much work to be done to...

The electrical construction industry continually keeps pace with new technologies, shifts in the labor market and more. Professionals working in this space can stay abreast of the latest developments by learning about...

There are several reasons for today’s well-publicized labor shortages, according to Kevin Tighe, executive director, labor relations & workforce development, at the National Electrical Contractors Association. First,...

One of the major challenges for contractors today is developing their workforce to ensure a smooth transition as journeymen retire and a new generation of technicians takes over. In this boom economy, it has become especially...

Supporting electrical contractors who perform quality work across the United States is a critical role NECA plays. It’s what we’re all about. Building blocks like recruitment and training early in the process matter....

Millennials now outnumber all other generations in the workforce, out-populating baby boomers and Generation X. Ideally, their skills are going to drive construction and electrical contracting forward to meet the needs of...

Two more states have launched major workforce development initiatives to grow their talent, including increasing training and opportunities for construction jobs. Last week, “ Build Virginia ” was launched to connect workers...

The numbers are shocking and well-publicized. As fewer electricians enter the electrical contracting industry than exit it, a net deficit of skilled labor will potentially leave contracting firms struggling to fill an...

Successful electrical contractors must keep pace with modern times, and one of the ways to do that is to recruit workers from the millennial generation. Statistics indicate contractors across the construction industry are...