image credit: Klein Tools and The Accelerate Group
A study conducted by Klein Tools and The Accelerate Group predicts a dire future for American society if new skilled workers are not hired and trained for the future.
The tool manufacturer and consulting firm currently claim that we need more than 250,000 electricians to keep up with the next decade’s anticipated energy demands. The average age of electricians currently stands at 41+ years. As these workers leave the field they leave a paucity of technicians behind them. Fewer and fewer young techs are available to take their place due to society’s view of blue-collar workers, a lack of trade advocacy in high school, and a universal push for college degrees.
If new technicians are not brought into the industry, American citizens may face long-term ramifications.
The study, called “Dark by 2050” predicts a future of unreliable energy infrastructure, week-or-month-long blackouts, and permanent outages as the remaining trained electricians must choose between life-critical services over residential needs. Their infographic paints a chilling picture, as banks close, food spoils, water and gas supplies are interrupted, and eventually care facilities shut down and communications fail the longer a blackout lasts.
In order to avoid this dark future, the U.S. needs to train a quarter of a million electricians in the next decade alone. As we move beyond 2030, and if electricity use projects prove true, we will need 462,183 skilled technicians to provide maintenance, repair, and construction efforts. Particularly if America is going to move into the future and increase its reliance on green, clean energy.
The study projects a shortfall of at least 25% of the qualified electricians we will need.
You can request a copy of this study on the Klein Tools website here.
