The UK government has set out ambitious targets to not only deliver net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but also to build 1.5 million new homes within this parliament. This means that the construction sector is not only set to grow but that those with the right skills to support it will be in high demand.
In fact, the government’s ambitions will not only rely on new tradespeople like electricians entering the workforce, but also on those who already work in these kinds of jobs upskilling so that they can support the transition to renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs).
If you are leaving education and trying to work out what direction to go in, or if you are looking for a change of direction with your career, undertaking electrical training could be a good move for these three reasons.
Demand
One report on the construction industry and its future found that electricians are one of the trades that will see the biggest uplift in the number of jobs available due to the government’s housebuilding commitments and net-zero targets.
By 2033, it’s estimated that there will be 43,700 more jobs for electricians than there are currently due to the increase in construction work. But that’s not all. Due to experienced electricians retiring, the same report estimates that we need a further 51,400 electricians to enter the workforce.
When the people leaving the profession for other reasons is also taken into account, the UK needs to train over 110,000 new electricians.
Variety of jobs
Training to become an electrician doesn’t mean you have to work in residential construction, even though that is what most of us think of first when we look at trade jobs. There are electrical roles available in commercial construction – for projects such as offices and public buildings – as well as in the industrial sector.
Within the industrial sector, electricians may require additional specialist training to install and maintain specialist machinery or electrical systems.
Then there are the growing number of jobs within the renewable energy sector. As the country seeks to decarbonise its energy supply, there is an increasing variety of roles here ranging from working on the infrastructure itself to retrofitting existing homes and businesses to allow them to use renewable energy more easily.
Opportunities to keep learning
Technology is advancing rapidly and that means our tradespeople need to keep learning so that they can keep up. This means being an electrician will never be boring. There are likely to be multiple opportunities to upskill throughout your career, ensuring that it stays fresh and doesn’t become boring.
You will also be able to specialise in certain areas if you wish, giving you the chance to become an expert in a particular field, like EV charging point installations. Having specialist skills, especially when they are in demand, often means you can earn more money.
Roles in the construction industry pay relatively well, with the average salary range for electricians currently between £26,000 and £45,000. Of course, the more you specialise and the more experience you get, the higher your salary is likely to be.
If you are passionate about supporting the transition to net zero in the UK, training as an electrician could be a brilliant way for you to provide practical support and see how your work supports the environment.