WASHINGTON, DC, June 11, 2026 – Careers Electric has announced a coalition to support the development of a skilled electrical workforce in the United States. The initiative is designed to equip students and workers with technical, digital, safety, and workplace skills needed in the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors.
Careers Electric coalition members include national trade associations, workforce development organizations, and philanthropic partners. The coalition was first launched in North Carolina and is focused on supporting and scaling a workforce training model already in use by employers and workers.
ABB has joined the Careers Electric coalition as a co-chair with the Siemens Foundation, pledging $1 million over the first two years to support efforts to scale electrical workforce development nationwide.
“Joining Careers Electric aligns perfectly with our goal of growing a skilled workforce that enables industries to be more sustainable and resource-efficient so they can outperform. We are proud to be part of a coalition bringing together government, industry, and education to help people build life-changing, well-paying careers while powering the electrified economy,” said Deni Miller, U.S. electrification business Lead at ABB.
Founding coalition partners include ABB, Amazon Web Services, Duke Energy, JetZero, Hitachi Energy, NC Electric Cooperatives, and Siemens. The organizations will work with the following implementation partners:
- Workforce Development Organizations: CareerWise, Strada Education Foundation, The Manufacturing Institute (501(c)3 of the National Association of Manufacturers)
- North Carolina Incubation Partners: NC Chamber Foundation, NC Department of Commerce
- North Carolina Grantee Partners: NC Business Committee for Education, Wake Technical Community College, NC Community College System Office and Foundation, EVITP, and Families and Workers Fund
The Careers Electric initiative is supported by a $9.25 million investment from the Siemens Foundation. Member investments are being used to expand existing programs and training pathways.
Employment demand for electrical careers is projected to increase by about 10% over the next decade, with as many as 80,000 job openings each year. Workforce pressures are also increasing as current workers age. In North Carolina, approximately 70% of licensed electricians are over the age of 50, adding urgency to train young workers.
“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. “Seeing industry leaders, including competitor companies, come together as part of this powerful coalition underscores just how important workforce training is to the strength of our economies and communities.”
The Careers Electric coalition plans to scale the model across the United States and aims to train 25,000 people in the first 10 years.
Source: Siemens
About the Siemens Foundation
The Siemens Foundation, founded in 1998 and based in Iselin, NJ, is a U.S. nonprofit funded by Siemens AG. It focuses on workforce development across key sectors such as manufacturing, electrification, and healthcare, with an emphasis on expanding access to training and employment for individuals from underserved communities. The Foundation supports initiatives that connect education with industry needs through technical training programs, scholarships, and partnerships with national and local organizations. Programs like ‘Everyone Charging Forward’ aim to scale existing workforce models to support community development and improve access to stable employment. Since its founding, the Foundation has committed approximately $165 million to these efforts. In 2024, it awarded $6.9 million in grants and managed around $80 million in assets. It uses its endowment and corporate contributions to fund initiatives that address barriers to economic mobility through targeted, sector-specific interventions.
About ABB
ABB is a global technology company specializing in electrification and automation, with headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland, and Västerås, Sweden. Formed in 1988 through the merger of ASEA and Brown, Boveri & Cie, ABB operates in more than 100 countries and serves sectors such as utilities, transportation, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Its portfolio includes robotics, industrial automation systems, electrification products, and motion solutions. The company draws on engineering and digitalization expertise to help industries improve performance and operate efficiently. ABB has a history of more than 140 years and employs about 110,000 people worldwide.