Electrician Shortage Hindering Renewable Energy Efforts

A shortage of electricians in the U.S. are impeding efforts to transition to renewable energy, as the skilled labor essential to installing electric-car chargers, heat pumps, and other gear is in short supply. Electricians say they are booked several months in advance and struggle to find enough workers to keep up with demand. The shortage is most notable in the Northeast and California, where state incentives for green energy have placed a high demand on electricians. Some economists expect the shortage to expand as incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act go into effect. The average annual electrician salary rose from roughly $50,000 to about $60,000 from 2018 to 2022.