IECRM Workforce Empowerment Committee Update – Summer 2025
IECRM is committed to growing and sustaining a strong, diverse, and well-prepared electrical workforce. Through the efforts of the Workforce Empowerment Committee, we’ve made great strides so far this year — building key partnerships, improving resources, and launching initiatives that directly support students, contractors, and the industry.
Here’s a look at what we’ve been working on:
✅ What We’ve Implemented
AMPLIFY Pre-Apprenticeship & Career Fairs
We’ve launched four CrossPurpose-funded AMPLIFY cohorts in 2025, in addition to our four public AMPLIFY sessions. Several IECRM-hosted career fairs have already connected job seekers with contractor members.
HBI Curriculum Alignment through Project SCALE
High school students who complete the HBI electrical curriculum are eligible to receive 72 hours of IECRM apprenticeship credit. This creates a direct bridge between school and trade.
Contractor & Student Continuity Emails
End-of-year communications help students and contractors stay aligned on registration, hours, and next steps. This helps ensure no one falls through the cracks during the summer transition.
Teacher Externship Program
In June 2025, IECRM hosted a three-day externship through the Colorado Department of Labor’s Teacher Externship Program. Local educators visited our campus to learn about the electrical trade, participate in hands-on labs, and hear from apprentices and instructors. This initiative helped educators bring real-world knowledge back to their classrooms and better guide students toward apprenticeship and construction careers.
Strategic Partnerships
We’ve strengthened pipelines with AATA, Goodwill, Master’s Apprentice, BUILT NoCO, and Rocky Mountain Partnership to expand access to apprenticeship and promote industry awareness.
🛠 What We’re Still Refining
Mid-Semester First-Year Check-Ins
We are working on launching check-ins halfway through the school year to better support new apprentices and identify challenges early on.
Career Fair Optimization
We are exploring ways to increase contractor participation and improve how students are matched with employers, especially during slower hiring periods.
Sharing Resources with Contractors
Following our member forum with Emily Griffith on hiring New Americans, we are expanding access to tools and information that support inclusive hiring practices. At the same time, we remain committed to continuing what’s already working and attracting the strong candidates we already serve, while growing enrollment through outreach to additional under represented communities.
Workforce Data & Tracking
We are improving how we track engagement and outcomes. This includes measuring the impact of AMPLIFY, career fairs, and the hire list to better understand long-term results.
Mentorship & Culture Building
We are gathering feedback to understand what helps apprentices succeed and how contractors can build supportive work environments that encourage retention.
📣 How Can YOU Contribute?
Join the committee or support its efforts by emailing [email protected] with answers to one or more of the following:
- Are you planning to participate in our Sept 4, Career Fair at the Northglenn campus?
- Have you worked with or do you know any additional groups or organizations that you recommend IECRM connect with?
- Do you have a workforce success story to share? (for example, hiring a New American, connecting with a pre-apprentice, or launching a new retention initiative)
- What strategies have worked well for you when hiring first-year or entry-level apprentices?
- Would you be interested in speaking at a future contractor forum or roundtable?
Thank you for your continued support in helping grow and sustain Colorado’s electrical workforce.
