Electrical Technology & Automation: Career Trends, Industry Updates, and the Future of Skilled Trades

Chariho Electrical Technology Students Explore Careers in Industrial Automation: Students from the Chariho Career and Technical Center's Electrical Technology class visited ProSystems Integration, an automation company in Westerly, to learn about career opportunities in the industrial side of the electrical field. The visit, organized by Chariho alumnus and ProSystems engineer Jesse Brunelle, aimed to expose students to the world of automation, which is often overlooked in traditional electrical training that focuses on residential and commercial work. The students toured the facility, saw various machines in action, and learned about the diverse applications of automation technology, from medical tubing to control systems for bridges.

Siemens Simplifies Migration to New Control System: Level Automation, a Swedish company specializing in electrical and automation cabinets, has successfully migrated from the Simatic S7-1200 to the new generation Simatic S7-1200 G2 control system. The migration process, which was expected to be complex, was completed in just two minutes thanks to a new migration tool in the TIA Portal. The new system is certified according to the IEC 62443 cybersecurity standard, making it ready for the increased requirements of the NIS2 Directive. This upgrade not only enhances security but also offers increased performance, more memory, and a more compact design.

High Demand for Electrical Engineers in an AI-Driven World: The rise of artificial intelligence, electrification, and automation is creating a surge in demand for electrical engineers. Companies like Nvidia, Apple, Tesla, Intel, and Siemens are actively hiring electrical engineers to build and manage the power systems behind these cutting-edge technologies. These roles involve working on everything from the chips that power AI data centers to the battery management systems in electric vehicles and the control systems in industrial automation. The median annual salary for electrical engineers is approximately $118,000, and the demand for these skills is expected to continue to grow.

Post Electric Expands into Home Automation: Post Electric, a licensed electrical contractor in Southwest Missouri, is expanding its services to include home automation and smart technology integration. This move is in response to the growing demand from homeowners to modernize their electrical systems and incorporate connected home technologies. The company has invested in advanced diagnostic equipment and training to handle a range of services, including whole-home electrical assessments, panel upgrades, and the integration of smart devices like lighting controls, thermostats, and security systems.

AI and the Future of Manual Labor: A recent report from Planera, a construction scheduling platform, reveals that while some manual labor jobs are at high risk of automation, others, particularly in the skilled trades, remain secure. The report found that emergency services have the lowest average automation risk at 11%, while agriculture has the highest at 89%. Electricians, with a low automation risk of 14% and a projected increase of over 80,000 new positions by 2030, are highlighted as a particularly "future-proof" career. This is due to the increasing demand for electricians to build and maintain the infrastructure for new technologies like AI data centers and EV charging networks.

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