The technical talent challenge [workforce development]

The electric system is the largest, most complex machine ever created. It requires a long-term perspective to develop and maintain a complex system designed to last 50 years or more in an always-on state. In recent years, industry leaders have taken a short-term approach, reacting to regulatory pressures, financial targets and system performance, placing relatively little emphasis on workforce development. The industry faces a technical talent challenge, due in part to short-term thinking. Long-term planning and collaborative actions must be taken to mitigate the affect of attrition in order to maintain the viability of the electrical infrastructure. With collective focus, the industry can shift to longer-term thinking that includes the development and availability of expertise to ensure the most complex machine ever created will flourish reliably and benefit society for many years to come.