Key Points
- Employment of electricians is projected to grow 6% annually until 2032 — twice the rate of all other occupations — with about 73,500 job openings each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- More electricians retire or leave the job each year than come into the profession, leading both labor union and non-union organizations to increase recruiting, and begin career messaging as early as middle school.
- Becoming a journeyman electrician typically requires a high school diploma or GED and a four-year paid apprenticeship under a licensed electrician, which is mostly funded by industry groups.