New Report: Power Industry Facing
Shortage of Skilled Workers
October 5, 2009
 The United States power industry will face a critical shortage of trained professionals in the coming years, according to a report issued by a panel of energy experts Oct. 2.
The Task Force on America’s Future Energy Jobs says a wave of retirements in the industry could cripple plans to improve the nation’s electrical infrastructure. At least a third of U.S. utility workers—about 160,000 employees— are scheduled to leave their jobs by 2013.
“A major transformation is coming,” said Jim Hunter, director of the IBEW’s Utility Department and a member of the task force. “We need people who can help pick up where these workers leave off, plus construct and run new systems of power.”
The task force says the nation’s educational infrastructure needs improvement, including measures to deal with low graduation rates, a lack of technical skills and a shortage of teachers. It recommends the government create new regional training centers, outline new standards for future energy workers and create a series of “best practices” for the energy industry.
Download the full report here.
Photo used under a Creative Commons license from Flickr user gsbrown99.
|
Related Articles
