The Siemens Foundation launched a training program aimed at closing a skills gap and creating opportunities for people interested in electrical careers. 

The foundation, an arm of German conglomerate Siemens, is investing $9.25 million in the program. The group kicked off the program Tuesday in North Carolina, where Siemens employs about 2,300 workers. 

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The new program, called Careers Electric, aims to train 25,000 North Carolinians for jobs in the energy and infrastructure sectors within the program’s first 10 years, the foundation said. 

“For years we’ve heard about a widening skills gap and growing worker shortages in skilled trades," David Etzwiler, chief executive of the Siemens Foundation said in a statement. “Careers Electric provides a model to solve this.” 

He said the company plans to focus on North Carolina before expanding the program nationwide, partnering with the governor’s office and the state’s community college system. 

The program, he said, “is about opening doors into high-demand, high-impact electrical careers that offer purpose-driven work, financial security, and a strong foothold in the middle class.” 

The state has been a magnet for companies focused on updating the nation’s power grid to accommodate renewable energy and increased power demand.

  • In recent years, Siemens has announced plans to hire hundreds of jobs in the Triangle, Triad and Charlotte areas. In 2024, it announced plans to expand its Siemens Electrification and Automation U.S. headquarters in Wendell to meet demand in its growing data center, semiconductor and utility sectors.
    • A unit of Houston-based MetOx International, a maker of efficient power transmission cables, also said in 2024 that it plans to create 333 jobs and invest about $194 million in Chatham County — part of a long-range plan to provide more efficient power for data centers, medical diagnostics and more.
      • Pennsylvania Transformer Technology LLC, a maker of power and distribution transformers, said last year that it plans a $102.5 million expansion in Raeford — a project that is expected to bring 217 new jobs to the Hoke County city.
        • Last year, Waukesha, Wisconsin-based Prolec GE Waukesha — a maker of power transformers — said it planned to add up to 330 jobs and in vest $140 million in Wayne County. 

          “North Carolina’s strong workforce ecosystem, business-friendly climate, and surging demand for electrification position our state to lead the nation in building the skilled electrical workforce of the future,” North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said in a statement Tuesday. “As our energy, technology, and manufacturing sectors expand, this partnership opens the door for more North Carolinians to access high-quality training and secure good-paying careers that support families and strengthen our economy.”

          Stein has pushed for more workforce development during his time in office. Last week, he said he would set aside money to support more youth apprenticeship programs in high-demand sectors. Meanwhile, the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships is working on a system that works to connect jobseekers and employers.