The lack of electricians in Colorado isn't new, but the state's low unemployment rate and high demand for housing have put the industry in a place it's never been before.
Even though enrollment in its apprenticeship programs has almost doubled over the last six years, the industry can't keep up with the demand for skilled workers, according to the head of the Colorado chapter of Independent Electrical Contractors.
"I think we need to change the face of what it means to be in the industry," chapter CEO Marilyn Stansbury told Colorado Matters. "For whatever reason, we've made being in construction not necessarily desirable." Her organization is "doing everything we can," to expand its training capacity to meet demand.
Read More: Starved For Workers, Colorado Construction Is Plugging The Gap With An Academy
