Projects for the NECA-IBEW Electricians remain steady, but events like the Mahoning Valley Skilled Trades Expo are driving awareness about careers in the electrical industry.
Since the first expo in 2019, apprenticeship applications have increased for IBEW Locals 64 and 573.
“Before we started, until now, they’re up between 10-15 percent. It’s been a good thing for all the skilled trades,” said Eric Davis, training director, Warren JATC.
Cody Hilliard, IBEW Local 64 business manager, is seeing an improvement in the number of applicants that have a basic understanding of the trade.
“The younger kids coming through the interview process are more informed than they were before. The level of education is higher than we’ve seen in the past.”
Keeping a flow of apprentice applications
However, Davis notes a common problem he encounters is people failing to follow through with the application process.
“Aside from not completing the application, there’s the aptitude test. At first, there was more of a problem with the math. Now, it’s the reading.”
Ed Emerick is the training director for the Youngstown JATC. He wants to continue the flow of candidates with the anticipation of more work in the coming months.
“Promoting the trades is challenging, and we can’t stop. At some point, there will be a worker shortage. It might not be in Youngstown, but in other areas, it might happen.”
Interactive exposure to the electrical industry
That’s why educating the younger generations about the electrical trade is so important.
“It allows students to see there’s another option besides college,” said Todd Ambrose, IBEW Local 573 business manager. “I knew about the trades because my dad was a pipefitter. Some kids don’t have that, so something like the expo is engaging and gets the word out.”
At the MVST Expo, students were able to interact with equipment and ask apprentices questions, which helps them understand what it’s like as an electrician.
“Younger kids might not be thinking about wages or benefits, but it plants the seed when they learn how a light gets turned on or to bend conduit. Then, when they’re older, they realize the income, the retirement and benefits, and it makes the selling point much easier,” Hilliard said.
For graduates, Ambrose believes earning and learning is a great setup for a solid future.
“Bottom line, there aren’t many careers out there that have a pension. They don’t have another retirement plan that’s contributed to by the employer. We’re not taking money out of our own pockets. Just to come out of high school with no debt, get paid a good wage and work anywhere in the country, to me, are the biggest benefits.”
Preparedness for future projects
Ambrose said there are positive prospects for jobs in Trumbull County within the next year that will increase the workload.
In Mahoning and Columbiana counties, there’s been a lot of hospital work and medical/assisted living facilities. Electricians with Local 64 are also at the Meijer project in Austintown.
Demand for workers in the electrical industry will continue, and the Mahoning Valley needs to be prepared.
“It’s good to keep the momentum going and the awareness out there. While things are steady now, they will get busy, and we’ll need that flow of candidates to enter the workforce,” Davis said.
NECA-IBEW Electricians, an association of IBEW Local 64 in Youngstown, IBEW Local 573 in Warren and signatory electrical contractors throughout the Mahoning Valley.