Apprentices Are the Future of the Industry
November 12, 2024 – Lakewood, Colo. — In the world of construction, the driving force that powers the industry’s growth often begins with a single connection between skilled craftsmen and the next generation of forward-thinking apprentices. For the first time ever, November has been officially declared as Colorado Apprenticeship Month. And, as technology continues to exponentially advance, the demand for skilled labor grows. Whether it’s advancing digital technology through cutting-edge data centers or wiring a state-of-the-art operating room for cardiovascular surgeries, starting an apprenticeship at Encore Electric is the first step in helping to power the future.
“I would say apprentices are the future of the industry. As generations age out and that knowledge is passed down, the apprentices are truly what keeps the industry growing, thriving, and innovative,” says Scott Nelson, director of project resources at Encore Electric. “We have more apprentice electricians than any other job title.”
Becoming an apprentice is just the beginning of the journey at Encore Electric. Not only can an apprentice become a journeyman, foreman, and eventually a superintendent, those who obtain their journeyman’s license have several career paths available. Electricians with Encore Electric can become a safety specialist, estimator, project engineer, project manager, or wherever their skills might take them.
Opportunities for Everyone
The trades have historically been male-dominated fields, but more and more women are quickly joining the electrical trade. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the number of women working in skilled trades has grown by nearly one-third over the past five years.
A new apprentice to Encore Electric is Emily McFadden, who began her journey into the electrical field just four months ago. McFadden learned about Encore Electric through an outreach program with Transportation and Construction GIRL, an organization dedicated to helping girls learn about financially sustainable careers in the trades.
Currently, McFadden is working at the Prefabrication and Tool Center, where most new apprentices start. At this facility, apprentices and superintendents alike assemble electrical components that are essential to each project. From high-tech hospitals to intricate education labs, a lot of the work begins in the Prefabrication and Tool Center.
“I wanted to start working at Encore Electric because I went to college and decided that I didn’t like it,” McFadden said. “I talked to some people, and they said I would be a really good electrician. I remembered I knew about Encore Electric, so I took the leap.”
McFadden applies what she’s learning in school to her work. Her current project is building lights, which includes grabbing struts, drilling them, pulling wire through the struts, and then wiring the lights through them.
“It’s quite interesting (to be a woman in the trades); while I know I don’t have to work harder to prove myself, I do work harder because I do want to prove myself,” McFadden shared.
Apprentices: Electrical Professionals with Mechanical Aptitude
Encore Electric offers apprenticeship programs and pays for the schooling of people who want to become electricians. The program allows students to work and get an education all at once. This hands-on approach not only equips apprentices with essential skills but also opens the door to a rewarding career in the trades.
“When it comes to workforce and development, I would say as little as five years ago, we had a hard time getting into high schools and other avenues where they didn’t look at construction as a career. Everything was either college or military,” Nelson said. “Now we have more applicants, men and women, trying to get into the electrical trade than we’ve ever seen before.”
For Colorado Apprenticeship Month, it’s essential to recognize that although the path of an electrical apprentice is challenging, it ultimately paves the way to a fulfilling career.
“You have to have mechanical aptitude to succeed in the trades, and not everyone has that,” said David Scott, construction industry advocate at Encore Electric. “It is our mission to elevate the trades because we know how important the trades are to our future.”
The apprenticeship programs at Encore Electric are more than just training programs – they are the key to building a sustainable future and a lifelong career. Whether high school graduates are looking to begin their careers or lifelong professionals are seeking a new path, anyone can take the first step and become an apprentice in the trades. During Colorado Apprenticeship Month, it’s a great time to learn about the different opportunities available and the benefits of joining the construction industry.