Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Wayne DeAngelo and Eric Houghtaling designating the third week in October of each year as “New Jersey Careers in Utilities Week” has been signed into law.
The sponsors’ intent of the joint resolution is to annually recognize the state’s investor-owned public utility workforce and various employment opportunities in public utilities.
The Center for Energy and Workforce Development has found that, nationwide, nearly 55 percent of the electric and natural gas public utility workforce may need to be replaced in the next decade due to retirements.
“Public utilities companies in New Jersey employ thousands of hard working men and women, contributing to the state,” said DeAngelo (D-Mercer, Middlesex). “This legislation is an opportunity to educate residents and, especially, students on job opportunities available in public utilities.”
“New Jersey’s public utilities’ companies have worked diligently to develop recruitment and training strategies and to promote them,” said Houghtaling (D- Monmouth County). “Establishing a utilities career week will further help share the many career options available in this industry.”
The state’s public utilities is a $37 billion infrastructure which employs more than 28,000 workers.