If you haven’t been keeping up with my current blog series on our aging electrical grid, it’s worth taking a couple of minutes to catch up on the last couple of posts:

• The Challenges and Opportunities of our Aging Electrical Grid
• Are We Watching The Slow Death of The Utility Monopoly?
• Great Timing and Influential Advocates : Here’s What’s In Store for The Trades

The first few posts in this series have focused on explaining the challenge we’re facing and exploring the people and processes involved in finding solutions.  In the next few posts, we’ll take a peek into the future so that we can better explore the direct impact that our aging infrastructure is having on Electrical Contractors!

The Impact on Job Security

Nobody wants to be in a position where they can benefit off of the suffering of others but with ongoing reports of bridges failing and other eye jarring headlines, it looks like tradesmen are going to be VERY busy for the new few years.

In addition to the boost in job security, many folks in the trades are finding that they now have the flexibility and opportunity to basically work anywhere in the United States that they wish to.  For proof, look no further than the positions that my own clients are hiring for across the nation!

Unfortunately, the infrastructure issue we’re facing is not restricted to one region in particular.  In fact, most of the first world is experiencing similar challenges so if you’re looking for career opportunities in other nations, you’ve got more flexibility right now than at any time in recent memory.

To give yourself the highest level of job security, now is the time to invest resources into continuing your professional education.  Brush up on the latest tools and technologies out there.  Also, if there are now training methods available to you – take full advantage while you can!

Opportunities in Robotics

Some of the most incredible opportunities for electrical professionals in the next few years will likely be in the realm of robotics.  Think back to when automakers began their shift from human assembly line workers to the robotic arms we’re more familiar with today.  The technicians and engineers that were involved in building and repairing those robotic arms became the irreplaceable workers of their generation.

We are likely on the verge of another such robotics movement in the United States.  Recent headlines about raising the minimum wage for food service workers has businesses asking themselves “is there a better way?”

Imagine being the guy or gal that builds and/or repairs the ordering kiosk that rolls into production to be housed in thousands of McDonald’s across the world.  Think about the amount of money that fast food companies will pour into things like more intelligent and reliable touch screen interfaces.

You couldn’t ask for a better time to be educated in the technical trades!  These are jobs that won’t be exported, and they’ll be high paying jobs thanks to such a high demand!

The Impact on Innovation

Robotics are a pretty obvious form of innovation but let’s dig even deeper.  There are definitely other innovation opportunities on the horizon that are associated with our aging infrastructure.

One of the most noticeable innovations in recent memory, for me, is from the digital television revolution.  Once enough consumers owned digital capable television sets, service providers raced to deliver the best quality possible.

Companies like DirecTV and Dish poured millions of dollars into their satellite technology and were able to deliver 1080p quality signal for their customers.  Providers like; Comcast, Cox, TimeWarner, and Verizon, found themselves playing catch up.  It’s not because they didn’t have the resources or the talent to solve the problem.  It’s because they were tethered to an aging system of copper and cable and replacing those systems would take longer and cost more – which put them at a competitive disadvantage.

The end result?  Consumers now have an improved experience at a lower price – and it’s a direct result of an innovation that ultimately separated them from a failing national infrastructure.  I can’t wait to see what other impacts and innovations we’ll see in the next few years!

Wrapping the Series

In the final post for this series, we’ll scour the recent headlines for clues and pointers that will help electrical professionals get the most from what remains of 2016!

• Tyson Conrad