INDIANA – There’s a shortage of electricians in Indiana according to a group in Indianapolis that’s looking to address the shortage.

Central Indiana Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC Indy) is beginning a new program to push more high school age students to pursue a job in the trades. Executive Director Sherri Puckett said the accelerated program will allow potential electricians to begin their training as an apprentice sooner rather than having to wait for the organization’s existing program to begin its next round of classes.

“We see only one person entering the workforce in the trades versus five baby boomers retiring,” Puckett told Inside Indiana Business. We just don’t see the number of individuals entering the construction workforce these days like there was a long time ago.”

Puckett said Indiana’s construction industry is booming right now and in order to keep that boom going the industry needs more workers, such as electricians.

“I believe schools are starting to do a really good job with inviting apprenticeship programs such as ourselves to career days and to parents to listen to the different programs and different alternatives to college education,” Puckett said.

She also gave a nod to the Next Level Jobs initiative championed by Gov. Eric Holcomb with one of the five high-demand fields addressed by the initiative being Building & Construction.

The accelerated program will begin in January with two classes per week. Puckett says the program wraps up in May and participants will then be able to begin their second-year apprenticeship in August.

The deadline to register for the accelerated program is December 15.