Careers Electric Kicks Off National Coalition to Enhance Workforce Training

Careers Electric shares the formation of a coalition that will address its goal to develop a skilled electrical workforce in the United States. The national initiative equips students and workers with technical, digital, safety, and other workplace skills required in the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors.

Careers Electric Coalition members include major industry employers, national trade associations, workforce development organizations and philanthropic partners. Initially launched in North Carolina, the coalition is committed to supporting and scaling a workforce training model that is delivering results for employers and workers.

The forming of the coalition signals a new approach to workforce development in America’s skilled trades—one defined by action, collaboration, and scale. The employer-powered coalition brings together organizations to align efforts, expand what’s working, and open the door to well-paying, in-demand electrical careers.

ABB has committed to joining the Careers Electric Coalition as a co-chair with the Siemens Foundation, providing a pledge of $1 million over the first two years to support the Coalition’s efforts to scale electrical workforce development nationwide. Their role as co-chair and contributing funder symbolizes the importance of sector collaboration across businesses to grow the talent pipeline.

“Joining Careers Electric aligns perfectly with our goal of growing a skilled workforce that enables industries to be more sustainable and resource-efficient so they can outperform. We are proud to be part of a coalition bringing together government, industry, and education to help people build life-changing, well-paying careers while powering the electrified economy,” says Deni Miller, U.S. Electrification Business lead at ABB.

Founding coalition industry partners include ABB, Amazon Web Services, Duke Energy, JetZero, Hitachi Energy, NC Electric Cooperatives, and Siemens—organizations that will work hand in hand with the following implementation partners:

• Workforce Development Organizations: CareerWise, Strada Education Foundation, The Manufacturing Institute (501(c)3 of the National Association of Manufacturers
• North Carolina Incubation Partners: NC Chamber Foundation, NC Department of Commerce
• North Carolina Grantee Partners: NC Business Committee for Education, Wake Technical Community College, NC Community College System Office and Foundation, EVITP, and Families and Workers Fund

The Careers Electric initiative is well underway thanks to a $9.25 million backbone investment from the Siemens Foundation. Rather than starting from scratch, member investments are accelerating and scaling proven programs and training pathways to more rapidly develop a skilled workforce.

As electrification accelerates across industries—from energy and infrastructure to advanced manufacturing and data centers—the need for skilled electrical workers continues to grow. Employment demand for electrical careers is projected to increase by roughly 10% over the next decade with as many as 80,000 job openings each year.

Also, pressures related to an aging workforce are already visible. For example, in North Carolina, approximately 70% of licensed electricians are over the age of 50, adding urgency to train the next generation of skilled workers.

“High-quality workforce training is essential not only to meet employers’ growing demand for skilled talent, but also to expand access to well-paying trade careers for more Americans,” says David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation. “Seeing industry leaders, including competitor companies, come together as part of this powerful coalition underscores just how important workforce training is to the strength of our economies and communities.”

With plans to scale this model across the United States, the Careers Electric Coalition will deliver lasting impact for workers, employers, and communities. The initiative aims to train 25,000 people in its first 10 years.

To learn more about the Careers Electric initiative or to join the coalition, visit CareersElectric.com.

About the Siemens Foundation 

The Siemens Foundation advances workforce development in focused fields, including manufacturing, electrification, and healthcare in the United States. Established in 1998, the Siemens Foundation has invested $174 million in the United States to support the development of U.S. workers.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.