The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) recently joined an initiative that connects transitioning service members and military spouses with career opportunities across the electrical industry.

The association joined forces with the Veteran Internships Providing Employment Readiness (VIPER) Transitions, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association (NEMRA), and the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) in this workforce development effort. The initiative targets transitioning U.S. service members, veterans, and military spouses who possess valuable transferable technical and operational skills, matching them with civilian career opportunities across multiple segments of the electrical industry.

“According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, electrician employment is expected to grow at twice the rate of all other occupations—with an average of 80,200 job openings each year through 2033,” said NEMA president and CEO Debra Phillips. “This partnership with VIPER Transitions promises to help fill this workforce gap, strengthen the security and resilience of our energy system, and ensure long-term support for historically underserved veteran communities.”

NEMA also announced the NEMA Academy, an online training and professional development learning platform offering on-demand educational and certification opportunities designed to build and upskill the current and future electroindustry workforce.

Access more information on NEMA’s website.