The National Electrical and Communications Association highlights current challenges in apprentice training and workforce representation in the electrical industry. They stress that only 52 percent of apprentices currently complete their training, and women are under-represented.
Australia faces a pressing need for 70,000 more electrical apprentices to meet the objectives of its residential electrification strategy. The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) emphasized this urgency during a hearing with the Senate Standing Committee on Economics. According to a Green Building Council of Australia report, the country must electrify 500 homes daily and triple the pace of retrofitting non-residential buildings to achieve its 2050 net zero operational carbon emissions target.
Specifically, NECA’s Head of Government Relations and Policy, Kent Johns, outlined the demand for 35,000 fully trained electricians by 2030. He expressed concern about the task of training 70,000 young men and women to achieve this goal given the average completion rate of 52 percent. Johns stressed the need to address this issue promptly and efficiently.
He also highlighted the need for female representation in the industry and urged efforts to increase female participation in the energy sector from the current 3 percent to 25 to 30 percent. NECA proposed a comprehensive approach to improving completion rates and increasing female participation, including industry-led training, active mentorship, and dedicated funding for training institutions.
NECA’s recommendations to the Senate inquiry include a dedicated household electrification plan within the decade leading up to the global net zero target of 2050. This approach would not only meet the demand for electricians but also allow for the training and development of a skilled electrical workforce capable of integrating emerging technologies and maintaining installations effectively.