May 2, 2025 – Google has announced support for workforce development in the electrical sector—an essential component in accelerating the AI revolution—by backing the Electrical Training Alliance (etA)—a joint initiative of the U.S.-based National Electrical Contractors Association and IBEW.

The support will help enhance training for more than 100,000 electrical workers and 30,000 new apprentices across the United States.

This news comes on the heels of a new paper published by Google “Powering a new era of American innovation”, in which the authors Ruth Porat, Thomas Kurian, James Manyika, and Kent Walker point to three important steps for accelerating the AI revolution in that country:

• Accelerate innovation and investment in affordable, reliable, and secure energy technologies, including geothermal, advanced nuclear, and natural gas generation with carbon capture (among others).
• Optimize the existing grid and commence construction of new transmission infrastructure.
• Develop the labour force needed to construct new infrastructure.

On that last point, the paper explains:

Modern workforce development must address the need for workers to build and maintain the investments necessary for an energy abundant future.

In particular, a shortage of electricians may constrain America’s ability to build the infrastructure needed to support AI, advanced manufacturing, and a shift to clean-energy. McKinsey estimates that 130,000 additional electricians will be needed by 2030 to build out data centers and manufacturing facilities in the coming years. But we’re going in the wrong direction: Nearly 10,000 American electricians either retire or change careers each year while only about 7,000 new entrants join the field.

Commenting on the paper’s suggestions, co-author Ruth Porat—president & chief investment officer, Alphabet and Google—announced Google’s support “for an effort to train 100,000 electrical workers and 30,000 new apprentices in the United States”.

“With funding from Google.org […] etA will integrate AI tools into its curriculum and boost the number of apprentices nationally. It will also provide apprentices with access to Google’s AI Essentials course to master AI skills.”

“With rapidly growing project demands and a widening workforce gap, NECA has been a strong advocate for the urgent need to train skilled electrical professionals,” says NECA. “This exciting initiative with Google has the potential to increase the electrical workforce pipeline by 70% over the next five years!”

• Tweet

• Ideal Electrical deepens support for trades with $25,000 donation to Support Ontario Youth
• Ontario to expand Skills Development Fund by nearly $1 billion over three years