As the American economy continues to evolve and change, many workers are asking critical questions: How secure is my career? Will I have to train or get another degree in just a few years?
And if you are just out of high school or around that age, you’re definitely asking similar questions, too: What should I do with my future? How can I be successful as things change so fast?
For anyone looking for a career as an electrician, the answer is clearer than ever: electrical work is a trade with a future.
Strong Demand in a Changing Economy
Electricians are the backbone of modern infrastructure. Every home, business, hospital, data center, AI hub, and factory relies on expertly installed and maintained electrical systems. With the rise of renewable energy, electric vehicles, battery storage, smart grid technology, and more, the role of electricians has become even more vital – and it only looks to continue this upward course.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects steady growth in the field. According to the BLS, employment of electricians is expected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. That translates to over 73,000 new jobs in the next decade.
Why Union Matters: The IBEW Advantage
Being part of a union like the IBEW doesn’t just mean better wages—it means long-term job security, access to ongoing training, retirement benefits, and strong workplace protections.
The IBEW works closely with contractors and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) to forecast demand and manage apprenticeships. This helps weather the boom-and-bust cycles that can be even more common in non-union trades. IBEW members are prepared for emerging technologies and certified through rigorous training standards set by the electrical training ALLIANCE (our school).
High-Tech Opportunities
Beyond traditional construction work, union electricians are finding jobs in:
- Data centers and hyperscale facilities
- Semiconductor manufacturing plants
- Electric vehicle battery production
- Smart building controls and automation
These are specialized, high-wage sectors, and IBEW apprenticeships are adapting quickly to meet these needs with certifications in fiber optics, solar installation, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
The best part? You can learn how to work in all these environments tuition-free as a student in our apprentice program.
The Data Center Boom
The IBEW’s official newspaper, The Electrical Worker, reports in May 2025 that the future is booming for workers in the sector, thanks in part to the data center expansion across the nation:
“The companies that build data centers — Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Oracle, IBM and Microsoft — are worth trillions. They are also in a life-or-death race to build data center capacity and build it now.
Even better for electrical workers, data center projects are uniquely dependent on their skills: Between 45% and 70% of the entire budget for data center construction goes to the electrical subcontractor.
That combination of tight deadlines and no margin for error in construction means the vast majority of data center work … goes IBEW.”
Beyond that, Google just announced a major partnership with the electrical training ALLIANCE (our school) to train the next generation of workers for these high-tech, high-skilled, high-paying jobs.
From Google’s press release in spring 2025:
“Google is announcing support for an effort to train 100,000 electrical workers and 30,000 new apprentices in the United States. With funding from Google.org to the electrical training ALLIANCE (etA) — an organization created by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association — etA will integrate AI tools into its curriculum and boost the number of apprentices nationally.
“With the support provided by Google, etA’s program aims to increase the electrical workforce pipeline by 70% within the next five years.”
And these are just some of the latest developments and opportunities for electricians – not counting the tried-and-true, bread-and-butter construction and service work that IBEW 1141 members perform across our Oklahoma jurisdiction day in, day out, year round.
A Career That Pays and Lasts
Union electricians earn well above the national average, with IBEW 1141 apprentices walking in the door their first day to earn more than $20 an hour, plus benefits (and that’s usually fresh out of high school, with massive room to grow). And apprentices “earn while they learn”—no student debt, and with jobs waiting on the other side of training.
As of May 2025, IBEW 1141 also just negotiated its biggest pay increase in years. That includes all the benefits and security that non-union shops simply can’t offer. Plus, set wage increases are already locked in until 2028, with more to follow down the line.
Power Up Your Career
All this and more shows why skilled trades like electrical work are hands-on, highly technical, and irreplaceable. The IBEW ensures that its members are not only protected, but ahead of the curve.
If you’re looking for a career that combines long-term security, excellent wages, and the satisfaction of building the future—look no further than becoming a union electrician with IBEW 1141. Whether you’re just out of high school, ready for a career change, or ready to bring your skills to the Union side of the industry, the IBEW is ready to train and support the next generation of electrical workers.
The future is electric—and IBEW 1141 is wired for it.
Connect with us today
1: If you live reasonably close to the greater OKC area, contact Organizer Allen Bresemann by phone or text now.
2: If you are in the Lawton area, or in a location near Pauls Valley or south of that region, please contact Organizer Steven Wicker by phone or text.
3: If you’d like more information on the current job picture, in our jurisdiction as well as in the surrounding states, contact Dispatcher Marcus Harlan via phone or text now.
4: If you’d instead like us to reach out to you, click here to fill out a short call-back form.
We look forward to connecting with you!