Finding people interested in the electrical trades is only the first step. The bigger challenge is helping them turn that interest into a career. In North Carolina, Careers Electric’s IBEW Pre-Apprenticeship program is giving young people an opportunity to experience the electrical industry and begin preparing for what comes next. A $9 million Siemens investment is helping support that effort and strengthen the state’s electrical workforce. But the program doesn’t stop at training. IBEW Local 553 and its JATC are helping connect participants with apprenticeship and employment opportunities, creating a more complete path from initial training to a career in the union electrical industry. Why It Matters The electrical industry needs more skilled workers, but workforce development works best when training leads somewhere. This program brings together funding, training, Local involvement, and job opportunities to create a pipeline that can help: Young people find a clear path into the electrical trades IBEW Locals recruit and develop future members NECA Contractors connect with the next generation of skilled electricians Communities prepare for growing electrical workforce needs The results are already being seen through dozens of Careers Electric/IBEW Pre-Apprenticeship graduates, demonstrating what can happen when workforce partners work toward the same goal. The Bigger Picture North Carolina is serving as an early example of how this type of partnership can work. The combination of industry investment, pre-apprenticeship training, union involvement, and career placement could provide a model for other Locals, NECA contractors, sponsors, and communities looking for new ways to strengthen the electrical workforce. See How the Careers Electric/IBEW Pre-Apprenticeship Program Is Building the Next Generation of Electricians Live in NC and want to learn more? https://ncbce.org/careers-electric/ 2027 Applications are open through November 2, 2026!