Ten North Carolina community colleges were selected this spring to participate in a statewide expansion of electrical workforce training, each receiving $250,000 in “flexible, performance-based funding” from the Siemens Foundation as a part of the Careers Electric™ Training Network. Now, Careers Electric has officially launched at each of the 10 campuses, according to a June 9 press release from the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS).
The following N.C. community colleges were selected to participate in Careers Electric:
- Cape Fear Community College
- Catawba Valley Community College
- Central Piedmont Community College
- Durham Technical Community College
- Forsyth Technical Community College
- Gaston College
- Nash Community College
- Pitt Community College
- Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
- Wilkes Community College
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Careers Electric Training Network, explained
The Careers Electric Training Network is a nationwide coalition geared toward bringing together “major industry employers, national trade associations, workforce development organizations, and philanthropic leaders committed to a new, sector-driven approach to workforce development in America’s skilled trades,” according to the June release.
In February 2026, North Carolina was selected as the first state to implement the Careers Electric training model.
Founding national industry partners include ABB, Amazon Web Services, Duke Energy, JetZero, Hitachi Energy, and Siemens, according to the release. These corporations then work with the following localized groups to execute the program in each area.
- Workforce development organizations: CareerWise, Strada Education Foundation, and The Manufacturing Institute (the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers).
- North Carolina incubation partners: N.C. Chamber of Commerce, N.C. Department of Commerce, and N.C. Electric Cooperatives.
- North Carolina grantee partners: North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE), Wake Technical Community College, North Carolina Community College System Office and Foundation, EVITP, and the Families and Workers Fund.
Funding from the Siemens Foundation will go toward modernizing curriculum, enhancing recruitment, and providing student support services, the April release says.
According the the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, electrician jobs are projected to grow 9% between 2024 and 2034, adding roughly 81,000 jobs in that time span. Careers Electric aims to decrease barriers to electric training, bringing together national and regional leaders to best serve each community.
“High-quality workforce training is essential not only to meet employers’ growing demand for skilled talent, but also to expand access to well-paying trade careers for more Americans,” said David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation, in the June press release. “Seeing industry leaders, including competitor companies, come together as part of this powerful coalition underscore just how important workforce training is to the strength of our economies and communities.”
The April press release highlighted the leadership of implementation partner Wake Tech, describing the role that the college played in fostering a partnership with the Siemens Foundation. Wake Tech received an additional grant to lead the launch and develop the national training model in North Carolina.
“Wake Tech is proud to serve as the anchor partner for this initiative,” said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. “No single program will close the workforce gap, but this model shows how community colleges can expand access, align with industry, and help build the pipeline of skilled electricians. We are excited to see it scale across North Carolina.”
Careers Electric hopes to continue expanding their model across the country, the June release says, and it aims to train 25,000 North Carolinians in the next 10 years.
“We are thrilled to see the formal launch of the national Careers Electric coalition. As a proud grantee and implementation partner here in North Carolina, our system is uniquely positioned to deliver on this national vision,” said NCCCS President Dr. Jeff Cox. “By scaling high-impact electrical workforce training across our diverse colleges, we are not only bridging critical regional skills gaps but also establishing a proven framework for workforce readiness that can power innovation across the entire country.”
Read more about NC community colleges and workforce training
Careers Electric Summer Electrical Academies
In addition to expanding electrical training at the 10 selected community colleges, the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, also supported by the Siemens Foundation, is launching 12 Summer Electrical Academies. The academies will serve 220 students at community colleges across the state in the summer of 2026.
Here is a list of the 12 academies:
- Blue Ridge Community College and Henderson County Schools
- Central Carolina Community College and Harnett County Schools
- Central Piedmont Community College and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- Cleveland Community College and Cleveland County Schools
- Forsyth Technical Community College and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
- Isothermal Community College and Rutherford County Schools and Polk County Schools
- Pitt Community College and Pitt County Schools
- Rockingham Community College and Rockingham County Schools
- Surry Community College and Surry County Schools and Yadkin County Schools
- Vance-Granville Community College and Granville County Schools
- Wake Technical Community College and Wake County Public School System
- Wayne Community College and Wayne County Public Schools
The governor’s office issued a press release about the academies, also describing the need for more young people to be trained in this field. With the average age of electricians being in the upper 50s, the release says North Carolina could face a serious shortage of skilled electricians in the coming years.
“North Carolina’s greatest strength is its people, and the state’s continued growth starts with an investment in our future workforce,” said Gov. Josh Stein. “These electrical academies will prepare the next generation of electrical professionals, create opportunities for students, and support the long-term growth of our economy.”
According to the release, each academy is a partnership between a community college and one or more local school districts, “with employer partners serving as work-based learning hosts and pre-apprenticeship sponsors.” Through the academy, each student will enroll in one or two community college electrical courses for college credit, earn industry-valued credentials, participate in hands-on work experiences with local employers, and complete a registered pre-apprenticeship.
“Upon completing the academy, the student will be positioned to enter entry-level employment through registered electrical apprenticeships or continue their education toward a certification or an Associate Degree in Electrical Systems Technology at their community college,” the release says.
Each participating student will receive a “$2,000 completion stipend, along with support services including career coaching, financial literacy instruction, and employability skills training,” per the release. The program will provide all “necessary instructional materials” to the students free of charge.
“These academies represent something powerful: a chance for young people across North Carolina to step into careers that offer real wages, real skills, and real opportunities,” said Caroline Sullivan, executive director of NCBCE. “Through the Careers Electric initiative, we are investing in students at the exact moment when a high-quality, paid learning experience can change the direction of their lives.”
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