Electrician shortage 2026: the numbers, the data center effect and how contractors keep crews

Is there an electrician shortage in 2026?

Yes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of electricians to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 72,700 openings a year. Many of those openings replace electricians who retire or leave the trade. In the AGC 2025 Workforce Survey, 77% of construction firms that employ electricians said they are hard to find.

The median electrician earned $63,190 in May 2025, according to BLS. For comparison, see what electrical business owners earn.

Why are data centers making the electrician shortage worse?

AI data centers need huge amounts of electrical work, and they compete for the same people as homes, shops and factories. Fortune reported in March 2026 that Microsoft president Brad Smith named electrical talent shortages the No. 1 problem slowing the company's US data center expansion, and that projections suggest more than 300,000 new electricians are needed over the next decade.

For a small electrical contractor, that means large projects can outbid you for journeymen. The same Fortune report noted that nearly 30% of union electricians are between 50 and 70, so retirements will keep pulling people out.

How long does it take to train an electrician?

The most common route is an apprenticeship that typically lasts four to five years, according to Fortune's reporting with NECA, the National Electrical Contractors Association. Apprentices earn from the start; one IBEW apprentice profiled by Fortune expected to earn about $42,000 in his first year.

Interest is rising. NECA says applications for commercial apprenticeships rose by more than 70% between 2022 and 2024, from roughly 70,000 to 120,000, far more than the number of positions. The bottleneck is training slots and experienced electricians to teach, not just applicants.

How do electrical contractors keep good electricians?

The contractors who hold on to people tend to do the basics consistently.

• Pay at or above market, reviewed every year. AGC found 95% of construction firms raised base pay in the past year, so standing still means falling behind.
• Sponsor apprentices. Apprentices who complete a registered program keep their jobs 93% of the time, according to apprenticeship.gov, and they learn your way of working.
• Pay for training and licensing. Upskilling current staff is the most common response to shortages among US employers (27%) in ManpowerGroup's 2026 survey.
• Offer predictable schedules. 22% of US employers now offer more schedule flexibility, ManpowerGroup found.
• Add earnings that do not raise your fixed costs, such as job bonuses or a share of recording income.

Can recording work add pay for your electricians?

Robot labs need first-person video of skilled trades work such as wiring outlets and lights, and Amelia Robotics pays businesses for approved recordings. Amelia pays the business monthly, and the owner decides how to share it. Amelia's example split is 50% to the worker, 10% to the team lead and 40% to the business. Read why robot labs want this footage.

Illustrative example: an electrical contractor with 4 electricians who each record 15 approved hours a week would earn about $2,400 a month at the typical rate (4 x 15 x 4 x $10). With the 50/10/40 split, the electricians share $1,200 ($300 each), the lead gets $240 and the business keeps $960. Amelia's typical pay is $500 to $2,000 a month per recording employee, assuming 12.5 to 50 approved hours a week. Earnings vary, and your agreement and approved recordings decide actual pay.

See which electrical tasks count on our plumbing, HVAC and electrical page, and the wider picture on the skilled trades shortage page.

Next step

Read how electrical contractors get paid for recording work and use the calculator for your crew.