Literacy and numeracy key to success in electrical industry

Good literacy and numeracy skills are essential for anyone wanting to become an electrician. The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), therefore, welcomes the government’s commitment to raising the bar in this regard and endorses their focus on the Trades pathway for people striving for a career in the electrical industry.

“NECA employs 2000 apprentices directly and trains a further 8000 people annually across Australia,” says Suresh Manickam, NECA CEO. “As a result we attract a huge number of applications for apprenticeships - but unfortunately find many otherwise excellent candidates are let down by their poor literacy and numeracy skills.”

NECA is working with the key organisations involved in education to develop an industry-recognised national benchmark for recruitment as an electrical apprentice. The association is promoting the industry in schools, and runs a number of scholarship and award programs aimed specifically at people still at school, Manickam added.

“The importance of ASBAs and pre-apprenticeships should not be overlooked. They are very important as entry points to the industry. ASBAs enable school students to continue the development of their literacy and numeracy skills whilst undertaking an apprenticeship on a part-time basis. This process provides an invaluable introduction and understanding of industry requirements. Pre-apprenticeships allow a student to experience the work of an electrical contractor before committing to a four-year apprenticeship. We also encourage schools to be more flexible with their timetabling to allow students to gain vital work experience if they are to enter a trade,” he concluded.