Tips For 2025 | The Right Talent, No Matter What!

As we enter 2025 with bright perspectives and innovative ways to grow the residential sector, I want to focus on one skilled trade: electrical.

The two areas that I have seen a need for in residential electric—heck, all of it, commercial and industrial—is talent: finding the best people for the individual project and adding talented people to the workforce.

If you’re a company looking to expand your workforce, below are some helpful tips to remember. Also, remember that a large part of the population—women—are looking for opportunities, and they come with incredible soft skills and ways to make all of us better on a project.

Here are some ways to grow your workforce and include more women in the electrical field:

Promote STEM education:

Encourage young women to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) from an early age, with a focus on electrical trades. Help your local career centers and technical colleges by letting your female electricians participate in programs where these students see them. They can also sit on advisory committees and boards; most schools have these now to involve industry partners. Here’s how Hill Electric does it.

Offer apprenticeship opportunities:

Create opportunities where you are in front of these female students. Make sure to bring the women in your organization to these events; they see you support diversity. Offer apprenticeships and training programs specifically geared towards women to gain hands-on experience in the field.

Highlight role models:

Showcase successful women in the electrical industry to inspire others and create visibility. If they are under 30, have them submit for the 30 under 30 at Electrical Construction and Maintenance (EC&M) annually.

Create a supportive workplace:

Foster an inclusive environment with mentorship programs and policies that support women’s growth and work-life balance.

Engage with industry associations:

Seek ways to partner with groups that support Women in Electrical and other trade associations focused on increasing gender diversity in the industry. Check out my podcast with Christi Powell, “Women Talk Construction.” Also, your local Home Builders Association has a group called Professional Women in Building (PWB); check to see if your local HBA has a group or form it yourself.