Strongest Demand for Electricians in Texas, Alberta, Ontario and California in 2010

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Written by John Egan for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Demand for electricians this year in North America will be greatest in Texas, Alberta, Ontario and California, according to an analysis of supply and demand for electrician man-hours conducted by Industrial Info. Other markets expected to see strong demand for electricians this year include Quebec, Louisiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Click on image at right to see which North American states and provinces are projected to have the greatest demand for electrician man-hours in 2010.

On a percentage basis, these states are expected to have the greatest increase in demand for electricians this year, compared to 2009:

• South Dakota, up 720% from 2009
• Kansas, up 140% from last year
• Maine, up 133% from 2009
• Utah, up 108% from last year
• Alaska, up 88% from 2009
• Minnesota, up 75% from last year
• Massachusetts, up 74% from 2009
• Nevada, up 64% from last year

"Our projection, based on announced industrial spending projects, is good news indeed for electricians," remarked Anthony Salemme, vice president of the Craft Labor Group at Industrial Info. "The robust percentage gains we project for 2010 are partly a reflection of 2009 being an extremely difficult year. But industrial spending is starting to grow, triggering increased demand for a variety of skilled craft labor."

In South Dakota, Industrial Info is tracking 18 industrial projects with a total investment value (TIV) of $1.4 billion that are scheduled to kick off this year, Salemme noted. Windfarms, ethanol projects, and an addition to the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority Laboratory, are the major projects driving the demand for electrician man-hours, he said.

In Kansas, Industrial Info is tracking 66 projects with a scheduled 2010 kickoff date. The TIV for these projects is $1.65 billion. Ethanol projects, environmental remediation, and a life extension of the Wolf Creek nuclear plant are some of the major projects in that state, Salemme said.

The projection for electrician man-hours is based on data and analytics in Industrial Info's Manpower Market Analyzer service, which is used by cost estimators and construction managers to forecast demand for skilled craft labor and better estimate the cost for that labor in metropolitan statistical areas across the U.S. and Canada. Industrial Info produces a supply/demand forecast based on active projects in a specified geographic area. Having current and accurate market intelligence about the demand for skilled craft labor and being better able to estimate labor costs in a given market can prevent unpleasant surprises that could delay projects or cause costs to escalate.

Manpower projections are based on Industrial Info's current and confirmed project spending information across 13 separate industries in the U.S., including Electric Power, Petroleum Production, Transmission, Refining, Alternative Fuels, Chemical Processing, Industrial Manufacturing, and Metals & Minerals.

But not every North American market is expected to experience increasing demand for electrician man-hours in 2010. In fact, according to Salemme, these states are expected to see the sharpest percentage reduction in demand for electrician man-hours this year compared to 2009:

• Iowa, a decline of 49% from 2009
• Nebraska, a drop of 45% compared to last year
• Indiana, a decline of 37% from 2009
• South Carolina, a drop of 35% compared to last year
• Alabama, a decline of 30% from 2009
• Florida, a drop of 22% compared to last year

Industrial Info has used the Manpower data and analytics to produce a periodical titled Skilled Labor Digest. The first issue of Skilled Labor Digest focused on boilermakers; future issues will focus on tube welders, mill wrights, and iron workers. Email manpower@industrialinfo.com to subscribe to the Skilled Labor Digest and stay current on the supply/demand balance for labor across all 110 MSAs across the U.S. and Canada.

Click here for an Industrial Info article and webcast about how green energy construction is driving imbalances in the supply and demand for boilermakers (February 8, 2010).

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Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy related markets. For more than 26 years, Industrial Info has provided plant and project spending opportunity databases, market forecasts, high resolution maps, and daily industry news.