With the energy sector facing a significant skills shortage, electricity distributor Essential Energy is taking practical action to help reshape the future workforce—starting with students in regional communities.
Essential Energy is again partnering with the NSW Government Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) program this year to host student work experience events that move beyond awareness and provide real world experience in trades.
Essential Energy hosted 24 events with RIEP in 2025 with plans to further boost engagement with students across 2026 as the energy sector looks to fill a shortfall of 42,000 trades roles across Australia by 2030.
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Essential Energy CEO John Cleland said, “To create that pipeline of prospective tradespeople, we need good programs such as RIEP to give young people, and women in particular, a feel for the careers they can pursue so they understand that the energy transition is delivering economic benefits to regional Australians.”
These future tradespeople will require specialised training in an increasingly complex industry, which is why the Essential Energy Training Academy, launching later this year, will be an effective education partner to the industry.
“We have had a very successful apprenticeship program for years but the skills shortage is so large that we started the Essential Energy Training Academy to help grow the broader industry—training people from outside our organisation,” Cleland says.
“The Essential Energy Training Academy is partnering with industry stakeholders keen to build the skills capabilities needed to drive the energy transition and meet growing workforce demand.”
Essential Energy recently hosted a RIEP NextGen Women in Trades event at its Dubbo depot on February 25, giving 10 secondary school students exposure to trade roles and a clear view of career pathways in the energy industry.
The years nine and 10 students from Coolah Central School spent an afternoon at the depot, hearing from skilled tradespeople before trying some of the jobs themselves.
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“It has really given me a look into the energy industry. I’ve learnt so much and I’m very keen on it,” student Lily Richard says.
“This has really opened my mind. I got to experience what it was like to climb a (power) pole. I’ve really enjoyed it.”
