Ad搀爀essing 琀栀e Elec琀爀ician Shortage RCC’S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS THE GUIDING LIGHT TO SUCCESS Electrical systems technology might a lot of jobs opening from Baby getting to know them, and doing all be one of Robeson Communi- Boomers retiring. 吀栀e average age you can to help them be successful. ty College’s best-kept secrets, but of electricians in the workforce is it shouldn’t be. Graduates of this 57, so we need to 昀椀ll the gap,” said “I come with a hands-on approach program leave making $40 an hour, McKnight. “If you can graduate from with these students, we try to show and in some instances make more this program, you are automatically them exactly what they are going to than $100,000 in their 昀椀rst year with going to get hired.” be working within industry… once overtime pay, making it a sure昀椀re we get them trained, they have the way to change the trajectory of one’s 吀栀e electrical systems program ability to go to any industry in the life and the future of one’s family for enrolls approximately 58-80 students county or beyond to get a job and generations to come. a year and graduates 60-70 students. make a living wage… that’s our goal,” It was the program with the highest McKnight said. “We push through 吀栀e current need for skilled elec- retention rate at RCC in 2022 with the simple things and students are tricians is great, and the money is 73% of students completing the more apt to keep going if they get a good, so why aren’t more people program. push, the success from the program becoming electricians? is very rewarding.” “McKnight and I are very encourag- “A lot of people are afraid of elec- ing instructors who try to get stu- McKnight adds, “吀栀is program has tricity,” Levinson said. “But it’s a less dents to stick it out,” said Levinson. been around for a while. It’s a solid strenuous job – electricians have far “吀栀e reward is so great at the end of program and our students know better working conditions, and when the tunnel, we have the concept that what to expect from day one and they start their career, they usually we are not going to leave any student they know there are good jobs wait- stay in the 昀椀eld.” behind, we work with them to get ing for them.” them to graduate, and that’s why our Safety is a concern for anyone deal- retention rates are so high.” McKnight and Levinson showed ing with high voltage circuits, but as some examples to students of jobs Matthew McKnight tells his students Levinson adds, “Our students know available highlighting Good Year in constantly – “Remember – safety that 100% of our graduates are work- Fayetteville. 昀椀rst, safety last, safety always.” ing, even the ones who don’t want to work are employed because the “吀栀ey are about 50 positions short,” McKnight along with Levinson are money is so great.” said Levinson. “吀栀e workforce is lead instructors for the electrical retiring, and a lot of people don’t systems program at RCC. McKnight agrees and says it’s all know of the need and they are not “吀栀ere is a huge skills gap. We have about working with the students, applying for these jobs.”