Power Sector Will Need New Blood as It Moves Into a New Era
The electric power industry stands to lose up to one-third of its professional and craft workers in both construction and operations to retirement in the next five years, and the industry needs a comprehensive plan to replace them, claims a new study released by the National Committee on Energy Policy.
The study, released on Oct. 2, was conducted by Washington, D.C.-based NCEP’s Task Force on America’s Future Energy Jobs, which includes members from energy companies, unions, academia and construction. It estimates that, by 2020, the energy sector could need as many as 150,000 construction workers in both the professional and skilled-trades ranks. It also says many of these employees will need new training and skills as the industry moves toward a lower-carbon model.