Building a Sustainable Economy & Jobs

By Paul Iaccarino

As the transition to renewable energy and climate resilience gains momentum, the demand for skilled trades will increase. Shaping the green construction careers now is crucial for building a sustainable future.

Union electricians, like those apprentices trained in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn by the Building Trades Educational Benefit Fund are essential in this journey. 

The Climate Act in New York and other measures mandate the retrofitting of 50,000 buildings to meet sustainability goals, while everything from the MTA’s  transition to a zero-emissions bus fleet to the over 2,077,000 registered vehicles across New York City will soon all require plugging into a modernized electrical infrastructure. 

Apprenticeship programs offer a remarkable career path and entry to the middle class, providing quality health benefits, strong wages, pensions, plus a no-cost Department of Labor approved educational apprenticeship program—an alternative to taking on personal student debt. 

According to a 2022 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, the typical union member’s median income is 18% higher than their non-union counterparts.  Union membership is found to increase wealth between 167%  to 228% for households of color, according to the Federal Reserve. 

As the BLS projects 73,000 new electricians are needed by 2032 to meet demand, it is critical that union apprenticeship programs are addressing that demand for skilled labor and empowering the next generation to lead the green energy transition. 

Each apprentice receives extensive training, far exceeding statewide minimum standards for classroom and jobsite instruction. A significant 60% of apprentices in our program are people of color, reflecting the communities they will serve for the generations to come.

Journeymen electricians typically advance to earn six-figure salaries, and some go on to become entrepreneurs, owning their own firms and employing other electricians, achieving the American Dream.

We are working dynamically to build the green energy workforce of the future and propel the next generation of sustainable careers.