Central Indiana IEC Launches New Program to Address Worker Shortage

Central Indiana Independent Electrical Contractors is launching a new accelerated training program this January to add to their efforts to address an industry-wide shortage of electricians. 

Central Indiana IEC already offered apprenticeships, but accepted new applicants only once a year. The new accelerated program adds a second cohort for applicants and the apprentices will meet twice a week rather than once. The training program is intended for people with no electrical background and combines classroom and field work.

Sherri Puckett is the executive director of the Central Indiana Independent Electrical Contractors. She says the underlying problem is that for every five people retiring from the electrical industry, only one person is entering the field. 

“There is a huge deficit right now with the baby boomers retiring and the industry anticipates that only getting worse,” she says. 

The deadline to register for the new program is Dec. 15. 

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