SAN ANGELO, Texas — In recent years, research shows infrastructure, new energy conservation projects and an aging workforce has dominated in the U.S. Because of this, Howard College is offering a new electrical training program for students.
Howard College has worked with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) for three years and continued that partnership with this upcoming program.
IBEW career development organizer Diarmid Campbell said bringing this program to Howard College will help greatly with getting people interested in in the workforce.
“According to the data I've read, we’re going to have a shortage of labor workers very soon. This was one reason we felt the need to partner with Howard College to try to get something out to the community. There is money to be made and we want to help those who are interested get to it,” Campbell said.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs for electricians will increase 14% through the year 2024.
Howard College Dean of Workforce Development Nicole Stevens felt it was necessary to bring the program to Howard to add to the many labor and workforce programs already in place at the institution.
“We hope that those interested can get better paying jobs. That is the goal of any program that we run here. We want them to be certified and skilled workers to make above the poverty wage and step into some better roles. On the flip side, from a community standpoint, employers can get skilled workers and continue servicing those who need it,” Stevens explained.
The program will be approximately 277 hours, which equates to about nine months long.
Students will be learning about branch and feeder circuits with various types of cable and conduit service of circuit breakers, lighting fixtures, receptacles, switches, paddle fans and electric motors. They will also learn how to identify and fix electrical problems on "service calls".
The first group of students begin classes March 21. If anyone is interested, there are still spaces available to enroll.