Every year, nearly 10,000 electricians either retire or change careers, but only about 7,000 new ones enter the field.
"We're benefitting from a generation that's looking past high school and is not seeing a career going through the traditional four-year college pathway.
Contributing to that shift are high school guidance counselors like Steve Schneider, who has advised students for 28 years, currently at Sheboygan South High School in Wisconsin.
It offers high school students hands-on training alongside workers from local companies, introducing them to skilled trades and other occupations, which can lead to an apprenticeship after graduation.
Among LATTC's 12,000 students, 4,600 are currently enrolled in electrician training, he said, adding that tuition is around $1,000 a year.
Persons:
—, David Long, They're, Adrian Sauceda, We've, Sauceda, Thayer Long, IEC's Thayer Long, Steve Schneider, Schneider, Kohler, NECA's David Long, Bill Elarton, Selig, Alan Marzullo, Marzullo, NECA's Long
Organizations:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, National Electrical Contractors Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Independent Electrical Contractors, IEC, Sheboygan South High School, Rockline Industries, Inspire Wisconsin, NECA, Electrical Training Alliance, Department of Labor, Los Angeles Trade, Technical College, Syracuse University's College of Professional Studies, Consortium, Micron Technology, Local, Micron
Locations:
U.S, Wisconsin, Sheboygan, America, Clay , New York