The Industry Wants You: Hiring returning veterans strengthens the whole industry

The numbers speak for themselves. As the demand for electricity and electrical upgrades rises, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nation will see over 80,000 job openings for electricians annually through 2033—double the average rate of other occupations. At the same time, more than 200,000 military personnel transition out of the service each year, many of whom are extremely capable and eager to start the next chapter of their professional journey. The industry is addressing the nationwide shortage of skilled electrical contractors with programs designed to recruit and train military veterans.

Matching these individuals up with the many open and essential jobs in electrical contracting nationwide is a natural fit, and one that NECA is proactively pursuing through its recently launched Veteran Recruitment Program, a strategic initiative designed to connect skilled veterans transitioning out of the military with rewarding career opportunities in the dynamic electrical contracting industry. The program, run in partnership with veteran-led nonprofit organization Veteran Internships Providing Employment Readiness (VIPER), along with a coalition of other prominent trade associations including the National Association of Electrical Distributors, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and the National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association, connects highly trained, motivated and mission-driven veterans seeking jobs with positions at electrical contractor firms.

A ‘perfect storm’ of opportunity

“The nation is at a critical tipping point—one in which we need to modernize our energy and electrical infrastructure rapidly to keep pace with the rise in demand for electricity driven by such factors as the growth of A.I., our increasingly digitized economy and our move to more localized manufacturing,” said Brandy Malone, federal policy manager at Schneider Electric, Andover, Mass. “All of these trends put pressure on our grid reliability, which is essential for our national security.” She is a U.S. Army veteran and added, “supporting workforce policy and veterans’ issues are passions of ours.”

From Malone’s experience, former military personnel make ideal candidates for a range of electrical contracting positions.

“Military veterans typically have a higher-than-normal level of resilience, reliability, loyalty and maturity than their peers, and many have also been trained and tested in high-pressure environments that require leadership, critical thinking and mission execution skills,” Malone said. “They’re exactly the type of people we want to recruit into our industry, particularly in this time of exponential energy growth.”

Lt. Gen. Ronald Bailey, who has a renowned 40-year career in the Marine Corps and currently serves as NECA’s senior vice president of industry development, agreed that military veterans are uniquely positioned to help fill the electrical construction workforce gap.

“At NECA, we’ve made it a priority to support our veterans and provide pathways into rewarding electrical careers by connecting transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses to jobs in the electrical field—leveraging a driven and disciplined workforce while providing them with the tools to succeed,” Bailey said. “We believe that hiring veterans isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s also a deeply strategic investment in our nation’s future. Our programs provide mentorship, on-the-job training and industry-recognized credentials, allowing veterans to transition successfully and build a career after they separate.”

Bailey noted that currently, thanks to veteran recruitment initiatives, more than 10% of NECA electricians are veterans. That trend needs to continue, he added.

“Today, as we take on massive projects that will revolutionize our economy and way of life, we must meet the moment and train up the next generation of electrical workers to get it done,” he said.

Strengthening the workforce

Below, representatives of two companies that are actively participating in the Veteran Recruitment Program—ArchKey Solutions and Morrow Meadows—share their experience and status with the initiative as well as why they feel this program is a win-win for all parties.

“Like much of the construction industry, finding skilled labor and seasoned professionals has been a consistent challenge for us, especially with the demand for electricians outpacing the available workforce,” said Leslie Borgmeyer, talent acquisition director at ArchKey Solutions, St. Louis. “We’ve worked hard to get in front of the next generation, but we also need to broaden the pipeline beyond the traditional sources, which is why programs like this are so exciting.”

With roles for journeyman electricians, foremen/field leaders, project managers, estimators and electrical designers among her company’s hardest-to-fill positions, Borgmeyer said that ArchKey Solutions has historically resorted to a number of creative measures to recruit the labor it needs to support its project activity, including participating in job fairs, building relationships with technical schools, supporting local workforce programs and driving campaigns to promote awareness of the company and opportunities in the trades in general.

“We’re also diving into developing recruitment marketing and workforce development strategies that will help us gain traction as we emerge into new markets where we don’t already have a presence,” Borgmeyer said. “But while all of these efforts help, they don’t always keep pace with the industry’s needs.”

From her experience, Borgmeyer said military veterans make ideal additions to the electrical contracting industry’s workforce. She said they bring a mission-driven mindset that aligns with the teamwork and accountability needed on project sites.

According to Borgmeyer, ArchKey first got involved with the Veteran Recruitment Program as part of its pilot partnership with VIPER Transitions earlier this year and is already seeing the benefits.

“Right now, we’re in the early stages—learning about the program, connecting with veteran candidates and working with NECA to understand how to best integrate this talent pipeline into our hiring strategy,” Borgmeyer said. “We see this as the beginning of a long-term partnership.”

“I appreciate that the program creates a direct, structured pathway for veterans to enter our industry,” she said. “It’s not just about filling roles but about matching veterans’ skills and experiences with meaningful career opportunities. Long-term, I hope this program gives us access to a steady pipeline of highly capable people who want to grow with us and who strengthen our workforce at every level.”

Meeting the demand for skilled labor

The team at City of Industry, Calif.-based Morrow Meadows has also found it difficult to recruit all of the talent they’ve needed over the years.

“Finding qualified labor has definitely been a challenge, especially in Southern California where demand for skilled and experienced electricians, project management professionals and estimators continues to outpace supply,” said Melissa Witt, Morrow Meadows’ career development manager. “To address this, we’ve leaned into a wide variety of creative recruiting strategies such as attending college career fairs, building strong relationships with trade schools and universities, participating in high school outreach programs, strengthening our digital presence across multiple platforms and incorporating military recruitment initiatives to help connect transitioning service members with career opportunities in the electrical construction industry.”

These efforts have been successful in helping Morrow Meadows expand awareness of their available career paths, grow their pipeline and attract quality talent. When it comes to recruitment, Witt agreed that military veterans are great candidates.

“They’re accustomed to working in high-pressure environments, adapting to changing conditions and leading teams effectively—all of which translate directly to construction project work,” she said. “Their strong work ethic, safety awareness and ability to follow structured processes make them excellent fits for both field and management positions, and many veterans also have technical skills that parallel our industry, such as electrical, mechanical or systems training, which helps them transition quickly into our workforce.”

Morrow Meadows has made an ongoing effort to connect with transitioning service members, so the company became involved with the Veteran Recruitment Program early in its rollout.

“We’re currently participating in a pilot program with NECA and VIPER Transitions, reviewing veteran candidate referrals, promoting career opportunities directly to veterans and showcasing our commitment to supporting military families,” Witt said. “Our team has also participated in career fairs on military bases to meet service members face-to-face and share the many pathways available in electrical construction. Morrow Meadows has also been an active participant in the Veteran’s Electrical Entry Program (VEEP) program in Southern California, which helps veterans transition into the electrical trade and begin their apprenticeship journey.”

While the Veteran Recruitment Program is still a newer initiative, she noted, “we’ve already seen promising interest from candidates who may not otherwise have considered careers in our industry, and we’re excited about the program’s potential to strengthen our future workforce.”

Among Witt’s favorite parts of the initiative is its ability to provide a direct bridge between highly skilled veterans and the electrical contracting industry.

“Rather than just filling immediate labor needs, it’s about building long-term careers for people who thrive in team-based, mission­-driven environments, and we hope that the program continues to expand its reach and provide a consistent pipeline of motivated candidates across different regions,” Witt said. “In the future, we’d like to see even deeper partnerships with bases, military transition offices, and veteran support organizations so that we can connect with service members at the right stage of their transition.”

Creating a ripple effect

For her part, Witt encourages other electrical contracting firms to embrace the demonstrated potential that exists within the military veteran community.

“Initiatives like NECA’s Veteran Recruitment Program give us access to individuals who already embody the values our industry depends on—teamwork, accountability and technical aptitude,” Witt said. “If more contractors participate, the benefits will ripple across the entire industry, helping us collectively close the labor gap and strengthen the future workforce. An initiative like this not only helps companies grow but also honors the service of our veterans by offering them meaningful, stable careers in construction.”

Malone concurred, and views the industry’s connection to military veterans as a strong investment in America’s well-being, prosperity, competitiveness and future.

“As a mission-driven corporation, we see the value in recruiting our nation’s veterans to deliver on one of our nation’s most important missions of the modern era, and we encourage all corporations to do the same,” Malone said.