Loading...Mush is always being made of a looming shortage of qualified electricians in the years ahead. As Baby Boomers continue to retire, and as the industry continues to expand, keeping the pipeline full with career construction professionals is a concern of owners, management and labor.
Well, the NECA-IBEW team, as well as interests from other trades, is tapping into a very visible source of young talent – our armed forces. In today’s Focusing on the Future Segment, you can learn more about the Helmets to Hardhats program.
There’s no occupation that carries more pride and sacrifice than that of the American soldier. The support of our troops is something that crosses all political lines and touches millions of American families in deep and profound ways. But when thousands of our veterans leave their active service behind, they face an entirely different challenge right here on American soil – finding a job, or better yet, finding a career.
That’s why the NECA-IBEW team is an active sponsor of Helmets to Hardhats, a national, federal, and privately funded program that connects transitioning active-duty members, National Guard, and reservists of our armed forces with careers in the building and construction trades.
Ed Hill, International President, IBEW
“I think there’s a need for the Helmets to Hardhats program. It’s a way of saying thank you for our servicemen and women who have served our country in this time of our need. And I believe that we need to offer them the opportunity to come home to a good job and to a good place of employment. Something they didn’t have when they left. Maybe they didn’t have a good job or place of employment when they went into the service, but we owe it to them when they come back to at least offer them that opportunity, and then they’ll have to make their own way with it. It’s something where we can say, ‘Here it is, now it’s up to you to take advantage of it.’”
Bill Triplett, Executive Director of Labor Operations, NECA
“The Helmets to Hardhats program is outstanding in offering our men and women in the service who defended our country to transition from the military life to civilian careers. As a veteran, I know how hard it is to make that transition without any assistance, without any background. Organizations like Helmets to Hardhats really give them the opportunity to reach out to people who have been there, done that, and can help guide them through this maze.”
Geary Higgins, Vice President of Labor Relations, NECA
“Helmets to Hardhats is a great opportunity for both the veterans, returning veterans, and our industry, when these folks come back after their term of service. We’re excited about it, there’s a lot of opportunity in our industry, and we like to be able to use them. My experience in our industry has been that we have quite a few people that are returning vets, and they make some of our best constituents, whether they are being contractors or whether they are working in the field.”
Now in its fifth year, Helmets to Hardhats is actively involve with nearly 200,000 veterans in their career search. A high percentage of them is interested specifically in the electrical industry. It’s a sweeping, veteran-friendly program that uses state-of-the-art internet technology and a diversified outreach effort to direct vets to a variety of apprentice-level opportunities.
Elizabeth Leadenham, United States Air Force Reserves, Plumbers Local union 1, New York, NY
“Waitressing was just getting me by. It was day to day. It wasn’t teaching me anything, it wasn’t training me anything.”
Ken Wong, United States Marine Corps, Metallic Lathers Local 46, New York, NY
“I came out and I went to a job fair, and that’s when I was introduced. I saw them at the job fair, and they told me what they were about, that they were pro-military, pro-union, and I figured it was a great opportunity for me.”
Elizabeth Leadenham, United States Air Force Reserves, Plumbers Local union 1, New York, NY
“It was like a lifesaver, because I would not know where to start.”
The opportunities that await those who are willing to work hard for them is something that hits close to home for long-time industry veterans who remember what coming out of the service was like.
Bill Triplett, Executive Director of Labor Operations, NECA
“Well, there’s a lot of fear because most vets coming out are mature, they’re older, many of them have families like I did, and you don’t know where to begin. Sometimes you don’t even know what you want to do. But then there’s something like Helmets to Hardhats, which offers careers and opportunities in construction, there’s something that you can put your handle onto.”
As hundreds of thousands of veterans begin to transition out, Helmets to Hardhats will continue to provide that critical link between a deserving vet and a great career opportunity.
Geary Higgins, Vice President of Labor Relations, NECA
“Well, depending on what their interests are, if they’re into high tech, that’s our industry. Our industry is constantly changing, The interesting thing that I’ve seen in the last 20 years is that the amount of work that goes into a building that is electrical work, in most projects anyway, has doubled in the last 20 years. So, they’re looking at an industry that’s growing and not shrinking.”
Ed Hill, International President, IBEW
“Well, in our field, we see a demand for both outside and inside construction booming. Our utility companies are starting to hire, we will be needing replacements for the Baby Boomers, I see endless opportunities in the next five or 10 years around construction for outside-inside work and for utilities in particular.”
Participation in Helmets to Hardhats is just one example of the innovative ways the NECA-IBEW team is looking to meet the needs of our future while providing career opportunities for those that are willing to uphold our standard of industry leadership.
Ken Wong, United States Marine Corps, Metallic Lathers Local 46, New York, NY
“It’s a good feeling to know that tomorrow you have a job.”
Elizabeth Leadenham, United States Air Force Reserves, Plumbers Local union 1, New York, NY
“There’s other people out there who are having the same struggles, who have the same problems. But here’s a program that’s here for you, to help you, so it doesn’t have to be a scary step.”
For a firsthand look at the Helmets to hardhats program, go to HelmetstoHardhats.org. For more information about apprenticeships in the electrical industry, go to ElectrifyingCareers.com.