August 10–12, 2026 • Burbank Marriott Convention Center, Burbank, California

For too long, skilled trades have been presented as a second choice.

They should not be.

Electrical, construction, renewable energy, data centers, and other skilled trades offer
real career opportunities, strong earning potential, specialized skills, and multiple paths for professional growth.

At Energize Us EDU, we believe people deserve to understand those opportunities
before deciding what their future looks like.

The Conversation Started at Builders Convention 2026 

At The Builders Convention 2026 in Burbank, California, we brought this
conversation to the stage during a live panel with Skills Jam.

The discussion focused on the real questions people face when considering a career in the trades.

How do you get started?

Where do you find training?

What does an apprenticeship look like?

What are the licensing requirements?

What does the career path look like after becoming an apprentice?

How much earning potential is available as your skills and experience grow?

We also talked about one of the industry's biggest challenges, the shortage of skilled
workers.

The industry needs more qualified professionals. At the same time, many people who
might be interested in the trades do not have a clear understanding of how to enter,
develop, and advance within these careers.

That gap matters.

Skills, Training, and Opportunity

A career in the skilled trades requires commitment and continuous learning.

It also provides opportunities to build valuable technical and professional skills.

For electricians, the path might begin with an apprenticeship and progress through licensing, specialization, leadership, project management, contracting, or business ownership.

The industry itself continues to evolve. Electricians are working with renewable energy, battery storage, EV charging, smart building systems, data centers, energy management, and other emerging technologies.

This creates opportunities for people who are willing to learn and continue developing their skills. 

Watch the Live Q&A

We invite you to watch the full Skills Jam panel from The Builders Convention 2026.

We discussed the challenges, opportunities, career pathways, earning potential,
licensing, workforce needs, and what it takes to build a successful career in the skilled trades.

WATCH THE LIVE Q&A PANEL
https://www.youtube.com/live/EY-FtI_RtC8?si=19P1AQmKcU-EuOsL


Thank You, Skills Jam!

A special thank you to The Skills Jam team for joining us at The Builders Convention 2026.

We appreciate everyone involved for helping bring this  conversation to the stage and for the work Skills Jam continues to do to introduce more people to career opportunities in the skilled trades. 

Learn more about their work: 

Website | Instagram | Youtube | Tiktok

Their participation also opened the door for more conversations about how we introduce the next generation to skilled careers.

Where Do We Go From Here? 

The Builders Convention panel was one conversation. There are many more questions worth answering.

Future topics include:

1. How do you get started as an electrician?
2. What does an electrical apprenticeship really look like?
3. How does electrician pay change with experience and licensing?
4. What are the steps to becoming a journeyman?
5. What does it take to become an electrical contractor?
6. Which electrical specialties offer the strongest career opportunities?
7. How are renewable energy and data centers creating new opportunities?
8. What skills will the next generation of electricians need?
9. How do contractors build and retain a skilled workforce?
10.How do we make skilled trades careers more accessible to the next generation?

These are conversations worth having.

The skilled trades deserve to be presented for what they are: professional careers built around knowledge, skill, responsibility, and opportunity.

It is time to change the conversation.

Stop calling it Plan B.

Start showing people the opportunities in front of them.

The goal is simple.

Give people better information.

Show them the opportunities.

Instagram • Facebook • LinkedIn • Website • Youtube

— The Energize Us EDU Team