The electrician shortage is real: 10,000 retire each year, only 7,000 enter. Siemens Foundation CEO David Etzwiler is building a $9.25M solution.
Meanwhile, 130,000 new electrical jobs are coming online in the next decade — driven by AI, data centers, and hyperscaler buildouts. The gap between demand and supply is accelerating. Yet most people still think of the trades as a backup plan, not a first choice.
David Etzwiler is the CEO of the Siemens Foundation, the corporate philanthropic arm of Siemens USA. He leads Careers Electric, a $9.25 million workforce initiative in North Carolina that is building a multi-lane highway from middle school to employer — with real training, real wages, and real career paths in the electrical trades.
In this episode, Andrew and David dig into the data center boom, why the 30-to-90-day retention window is where most employers lose new workers, and why mentorship isn't just good practice — it's the only thing that makes apprenticeship actually work. If you're in the trades, work with tradespeople, or want to steer someone toward a high-paying career without a four-year degree, this one is for you.
IN THIS EPISODE
(00:00) – The AI and Electrician Conversation: Andrew shares why his 12-year-old's question about AI and careers led directly to this episode — and why the answer keeps pointing back to the trades.
(04:00) – The Electrician Shortage Nobody Talks About: 10,000 electricians retire every year. Only 7,000 enter. With 130,000 new electrical jobs coming in the next decade, David explains why the window to act is now.
(10:00) – Careers Electric and the Multi-Lane Highway: The $9.25M Siemens Foundation initiative in North Carolina is building pathways from middle school to community college to employer — with multiple on-ramps and off-ramps at every level.
(17:00) – Why You Lose People in the First 90 Days: Andrew and David break down the retention problem in the trades and what employers and training programs must do differently to keep Gen Z workers engaged past the first month.
(23:00) – Mentorship Is the Gold Standard: Pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship are only as good as the mentor. David explains why pairing someone with the right journeyman — not just a skilled one — is the difference between a career and a dropout.
(29:00) – Wages, Pathways, and Scaling Nationally: Median electrical wages sit at $62,300 with room to grow. David shares how the Careers Electric model will expand beyond North Carolina and how employers and individuals can get involved today.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. electrical trades are already short-staffed — 10,000 electricians retire each year while only 7,000 enter the field, and 130,000 new electrical jobs are expected in the next decade driven by AI data centers and grid buildouts.
The Siemens Foundation's Careers Electric initiative is investing $9.25 million in North Carolina to build a standardized, sector-based training pipeline from middle school through community college to employer, with a goal of 25,000 trained workers over 10 years.
Retention in the trades is most fragile in the first 30 to 90 days — employers who help new workers understand expectations before day one, pair them with patient mentors, and pay competitive wages dramatically improve long-term retention.
Apprenticeship teaches the trade, but mentorship builds the tradesperson — the most consistent factor in whether someone stays and thrives in a skilled trade is a mentor who is genuinely invested in their success, not just their productivity.
About the Guest
David Etzwiler is the CEO of the Siemens Foundation, the corporate philanthropic arm of Siemens USA. He has led the Foundation's workforce, health, and sustainability initiatives since 2013. Prior to Siemens, David served as Vice President of Community Affairs and Executive Director of the Medtronic Foundation, where he grew annual giving from $6.5 million to $31.6 million. He holds a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and a Master of Public Policy from The Claremont Graduate University.
David leads Careers Electric, a $9.25 million sector-based workforce initiative in North Carolina building a multi-lane training pathway from middle school to employer in the electrical trades — with plans to scale the model nationally, state by state.
Keywords
electrician shortage, electrical trades careers, skilled trades, workforce training, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, data centers, AI jobs, Careers Electric, Siemens Foundation, David Etzwiler, IBEW, EVITP, community college trades, mentorship in skilled trades, Gen Z careers, trade school alternatives, North Carolina workforce
RESOURCE LINKS
David Etzwiler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-etzwiler-26916033/
Siemens Foundation Website: https://www.siemensfoundation.org
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