True Left

“We need higher growth and some kind of fiscal reform.”

The US “is in the midst of an innovation revolution” while also carrying a very large debt burden, but it is the “average household” that gets hurt, says Mohamed El-Erian, one of the world’s most respected bond-market experts and chief economic adviser at Allianz.

People still train to be electricians in the U.S., but the pipeline is failing to produce enough workers to match surging demand.

Cultural and Educational Shifts College focus: Schools spent decades pushing four-year university degrees as the only path to success.

Lost shop classes: Federal education policies like No Child Left Behind cut funding for vocational classes like wood and metal shop in favor of standardized testing. 

Stigma: High school counselors often overlook or devalue the skilled trades compared to traditional college tracks.

Apprenticeship Retention and Workplace Issues

Low starting pay: Entry-level apprentice wages often do not compete with other available entry-level jobs.

High dropout rates: Roughly 50% to 60% of apprentices quit before finishing due to poor mentorship, harsh working environments, or toxic workplace culture.

Aging Workforce and Exploding Demand

Retirement wave: Nearly 30% of current licensed electricians are nearing retirement age.

New infrastructure: Demand is skyrocketing due to electric vehicle (EV) chargers, renewable energy projects, grid updates, and massive AI data centers.