Number of Electricians Approaching Retirement Age Doubles

The Joint Industry Board (JIB) has recently published its 2010 Labour Report, giving us an inside look into the short, medium and long term employee developments within the electrical industry. The positive elements of the report include the stability of employment in the electrical industry as a whole, even amidst the harsh economic conditions we are currently experiencing; 48% of employees have been with their current employer for five years or more, with a staggering 19% having been with the same company for over 25 years. This goes to show that if you are considering enrolling on electrical courses, you will be entering into a stable and recession proof career. 

One potential drawback (but a benefit for those wishing to become an electrician) is that the age profile of individuals in many sectors of the electrical and construction industry is steadily on the rise. The average age of a JIB electrician currently stands at 41, which in itself is no problem at all, it’s the number of employees over the age of 61 which raises concerns. This figure has more than doubled in the last ten years, highlighting the fact that the skills shortage is only going to worsen over the coming years as more and more electricians retire.

With a significant skills shortage already existing in the industry and with the prospect of a good proportion of those electricians retiring in the next few years, there really is no better time to shop around for electrical courses. The future really does look bright for aspiring electricians.

If you are interested in changing careers and becoming an electrician, here at Access Training we have a wide range of electrical courses for you to choose from, so you can find the perfect course for you.