Stimulus Money Funding Free Utility Training in Connecticut

The Obama Administration promised that the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act would put unemployed workers back on the payroll. In New England, the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) is using some of those dollars to offer a free 12 week training program for future utility workers.


Training Opportunities for Utility Workers

Among the groups partnering with the CBIA for the electric/gas training program are Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas. The utility companies provide matching funds that are combined with federal stimulus dollars to train eligible individuals for entry-level utility positions.

Participants in the training session learn about subjects such as:

• Gas and electric utilities
• Alternative energy
• Smart grid
• Machinery operation

Upon completion of the course, individuals should be well-prepared to receive their commercial driver’s license and take the Construction and Skilled Trades (CAST) exam. In a statement, Judith K. Resnick, CBIA’s director of workforce development and training said, “This is a unique program. It attracts workers by providing them with cutting-edge skills and knowledge needed to work in the utility industry.”

The program is also a win-win for utility companies. Resnick continues, “It also provides employers with the skilled labor necessary to fill a critical need for trained entry-level workers in the utility business.” To be sure, as the utility workforce ages, companies are faced with the prospect of replacing retirees with new employees who are prepared with the latest industry skills.


The Future of Utility Jobs

In 2009, the Center for Energy Workforce Development issued a report that highlighted the increasing need for trained utility specialists. The center, which includes natural gas, electric and nuclear energy utilities, estimates that 42% of current utility line workers will need to be replaced by 2015.

Many of the current workers will retire after decades of experience. The center finds that most utility workers retire after age 58 and 25 years of experience. In response to the looming employee shortage, the utility industry has undertaken a comprehensive effort to train replacement workers who can fill these vacancies.

Utility workers are not only in demand, but they are also well-compensated. The Bureau of Labor Statistics pegs the average salary of utility line workers nationwide at $56,000. Meanwhile, power plant operators can see average salaries of $58,470. Work in a nuclear power plant and that average salary jumps to $73,320.

Back in Connecticut, $14.5 million are being allocated for workforce development programs across all sectors. With the help of the CBIA, state residents are able to tap into a portion of that money to train for the in-demand utility careers of the future.


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Maryalene LaPonsie is an accomplished writer who has extensive experience reporting on education, career advancement and workforce development topics. She specializes in sales and marketing consultation as well as general copywriting services.