June 2009
Looking For Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
by Keven Groenewold
It is that time of the year when our mailboxes begin to receive all those colorful graduation announcements. From kindergarten to college—the next generation is finishing one phase of education and entering another.
And no matter where one finds themself along this journey, it is always a good idea to reassess the chosen path. Are the right classes being taken-are the needed skills being developed? We have seen many changes in our country in just the last year. These changes can have long-term impacts on where jobs will be created.
One thing that is still clear is that in spite of the gloom we see in some segments of the economy, there will still be job opportunities in the electric utility industry.
One thing that is still clear is that in spite of the gloom we see in some segments of the economy, there will still be job opportunities in the electric utility industry.
These jobs require backgrounds in math, science, and engineering. Training in these areas can not start too early. A strong math and science beginning in junior high will certainly pay dividends down the road.
Many believe we are seeing a shrinking knowledge base within our industry. With the age of employees increasing, co-ops are challenged to find new ways to transfer knowledge from experienced personnel to younger replacements. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, electric power industry workers are already older than the national average (the average utility employee is 48.7 years old), and the median age will continue to increase over the next 25 years.
For utilities as a whole, more than 148,000 employees fall in the 55-to-64 year old range, with another 26,000 employees over age 65. Even more significantly, approximately half of the baby boomer group will reach retirement age in the next five years.
A recent study published by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association showed 61 percent of line superintendents are over age 50. Industry experts are reporting that up to 40 percent of lineworkers in the nation’s 3,150 electric utilities will retire soon. This will result in a huge transition of the knowledge base in our industry.
The imminent loss of such a large number of highly-skilled utility professionals, whose considerable training and expertise are extremely valuable to both utility performance and safety, represent a growing dilemma within the power industry. At the same time, it also brings opportunity. Remember the next generation we talked about? These young people will bring new vision and fresh ideas to the co-op workforce.
As co-ops move forward in addressing front burner issues like climate change, renewable energy integration, and energy efficiency, the future employee has their hands full. It will be necessary for the future co-op worker to balance new technology and laws with reliability and affordability. Decisions may be based on an entire new set of criteria—many of which have not even been identified by today’s co-op worker. These future decisions are being shaped today as our young people wind their way through life’s journey.
As you watch those twelve-year-olds proudly receive their elementary diploma, remember, some of these kids will some day deliver your co-op’s electricity. So, do what you can to help them along.
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