IEC El Paso Chapter, Inc.

Today’s Wire Off Competition is moving into motor controls.
 
This is where training gets technical.
 
Our apprentices are being tested on the kind of work that takes focus, accuracy, safety, and real field understanding. Motor controls are used throughout the electrical trade to start, stop, protect, and control equipment in commercial and industrial settings.
 
This is not just about speed. It is about reading the problem, wiring it correctly, troubleshooting under pressure, and proving that classroom instruction and on the job training are connecting.
 
That is what Registered Apprenticeship is built to do. Paid work experience. Classroom instruction. Mentorship. Skill development. A nationally recognized pathway into the trade.
 
Today, that training is showing up in real time.
 
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, ApprenticeshipUSA, Registered Apprenticeship model; OSHA, Electrical Safety and Control of Hazardous Energy guidance.
 
| myelectriccareer.com

Today’s Wire Off Competition is not just about the apprentices competing.
 
It is about the families standing behind them.
 
Wives. Parents. Grandparents. Kids. Brothers. Sisters. The people who see the long days, the early mornings, the studying, the work boots, the sacrifice, and the pride that comes with choosing a real trade.
 
That is El Paso.
 
Family shows up here. In English. In Spanish. Sometimes both in the same sentence.
 
And that matters, because El Paso is one of the most bilingual communities in the country. According to U.S. Census data, 68% of El Paso County residents age 5 and older speak a language other than English at home. A 2025 bilingual cities study also ranked El Paso as the most bilingual city in the United States.
 
So when our apprentices compete, they are not competing alone.
 
Their families are here with them.
 
Their city is behind them.
 
And today, you can hear it in every shout out.
 
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, El Paso County language spoken at home, 2020 to 2024; Preply, Most Bilingual Cities in America, 2025.
 
| myelectriccareer.com

Today, IEC El Paso apprentices are putting their training to the test at our annual Wire Off Competition.
 
The Wire Off is where classroom learning, on the job training, safety, and craftsmanship show up in real time.
 
Apprentices are being tested on real electrical skills: residential wiring, conduit bending, motor controls, ladder logic, accuracy, problem solving, workmanship, and the ability to perform under pressure.
 
At the national level, IEC’s Apprentice of the Year competition tests electrical knowledge, technical skill, safety, and speed through hands on challenges.
 
Source: Independent Electrical Contractors
https://ieci.org/iec-announces-winners-of-2025-apprentice-of-the-year-competition-at-spark/
 
Today is more than a competition.
 
It is focus.
It is skill.
It is safety.
It is discipline.
It is craftsmanship.
 
This is apprenticeship in action.
This is workforce development in action.
This is IEC El Paso.
 
| myelectriccareer.com

Real reviews. Real training. Real opportunity.

At IEC El Paso, apprenticeship is more than a classroom experience. It is paid on the job training paired with classroom instruction through a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship, designed to prepare the next generation of skilled electricians. The impact shows in the voices of the apprentices and community members who have experienced it firsthand. (U.S. Department of Labor)

The demand for this trade is real. Employment of electricians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2024 to 2034, with about 81,000 openings each year on average in the United States. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Thank you to everyone who continues to share their experience with IEC El Paso.

| myelectriccareer.com

IEC National’s Policy Conference is a powerful reminder that advocacy is part of building the future of the electrical industry.

The message is clear: many small businesses may not always be heard alone, but together, through IEC, independent electrical contractors have a stronger voice.

That matters.

Small businesses remain the backbone of the U.S. economy, and Registered Apprenticeship remains one of the strongest workforce models in the country.

Through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship system, apprentices gain paid work experience, classroom instruction, mentorship, and a nationally recognized credential.

This is why IEC members show up in Washington, D.C.

To support merit shop contractors.
To strengthen workforce development.
To protect small businesses.
To advocate for registered apprenticeship.
To make sure lawmakers understand what it takes to keep America powered.

Advocacy does not end after one day on Capitol Hill.

That day is the spark. The real work continues year round through training, hiring, mentoring, and speaking up for the people and businesses that power America.

IEC El Paso is proud to be part of a national network carrying the voice of contractors, apprentices, instructors, and the skilled trades into the rooms where decisions are made.

Sources: IEC National Policy Conference, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Small Business Administration

El Paso | Since 1968

Happy Mother’s Day

Instructor Appreciation Week: May 4 to 8, 2026

This week, IEC El Paso celebrates the instructors who help power our industry forward.

Our instructors do more than teach from a book. They bring real jobsite experience into the classroom, break down complex electrical concepts, and help apprentices build the confidence, skill, and discipline it takes to succeed in the trade.

Their work shapes careers.
Their mentorship strengthens our workforce.
Their dedication helps build the future of the electrical industry in El Paso.

To all of our instructors: thank you for your time, patience, knowledge, and commitment to our apprentices. Your work makes a lasting difference.

This week, IEC El Paso celebrates the instructors who help power our industry forward.

Our instructors do more than teach from a book. They bring real jobsite experience into the classroom, break down complex electrical concepts, and help apprentices build the confidence, skill, and discipline it takes to succeed in the trade.

Their work shapes careers.
Their mentorship strengthens our workforce.
Their dedication helps build the future of the electrical industry in El Paso.

Help us recognize them this week by leaving a Google review and giving a shout out to your favorite IEC El Paso instructor.

To all of our instructors: thank you for your time, patience, knowledge, and commitment to our apprentices. Your work makes a lasting difference.

EPAC Industry Day brought together high school students, employers, and training partners for a full day of career exploration, real conversations, mock interviews, resume reviews, and hands on exposure to the trades.

With approximately 550 students in attendance, this event was more than a school activity. It was a look at the future workforce of El Paso.

IEC El Paso was proud to help students understand what apprenticeship can offer:

Paid work.
Classroom training.
Mentorship.
Real jobsite experience.
A career path with purpose.

Every electrician starts somewhere. Days like this help high school students see that the skilled trades are not just an option. They are a real future.

Learn more at MyElectricCareer.com