BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — 2019 could be a big year for local electricians as new recruits are in high demand.

Jim Elrod, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 428, said they are looking to hire between fifty to one hundred new electricians to replace soon-to-be retired electricians and to complete growing jobs here in Kern County.

As the Baby Boomer generation moves into retirement age, more jobs will become available. Elrod said, “That means we have to bring in new people to train through our five year apprenticeship, we have to take people who are already doing the work and bring them in just to offset the exit of the retirees.”

The I.B.E.W. Local 428 offers a five year apprentice program. Elrod said starting salary for an apprentice is $18 dollars an hour with medical benefits and a pension. The program trains their apprentices for eight hours every other week inside their training workshop and offers on the job training the rest of the time.

If you would like to learn more information about the I.B.E.W. apprenticeship program, visit their website:
I.B.E.W. Apprenticeship