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New York’s clean energy ambitions are moving fast. EV charging stations are popping up across the state, buildings are transitioning away from fossil fuels, and public programs continue to push sustainability goals forward. But according to one industry veteran, there’s a piece of this puzzle that isn’t getting enough attention: whether the state actually has enough trained workers to make it all happen.
Richard Sajiun, CEO and Master Electrician at Sajiun Electric Inc., argues that New York’s electrification push will only succeed if there are enough qualified people on the ground to build and maintain the systems involved.
A Workforce Squeeze at the Worst Possible Time
Electrical work is in high demand throughout New York right now. New EV chargers, building retrofits, and infrastructure upgrades are generating more work than the industry has seen in years. The problem is that this boom is hitting just as the electrical trade faces a real staffing crunch.
Sajiun Electric has been operating since 1965, when Richard’s father founded the company. Over decades of serving hospitals, government buildings, and commercial clients across New York, Richard has watched the trade evolve, and he’s clear about what makes it work.
“Electrical work has always been a trade built on mentorship,” Sajiun says. “The expertise required to complete projects safely and efficiently is learned over time through hands-on experience.”
That experience is getting harder to come by. As veteran electricians retire, fewer newcomers are stepping in to replace them, widening the gap between what the industry needs and what it has. Nationally, roughly 81,000 electrical jobs need to be filled annually just to keep up with demand — and in a state with as much active construction as New York, that shortage is becoming hard to ignore.
EV Growth Is Raising the Stakes
The push toward electric vehicles is adding even more pressure. New York City’s Local Law 55 mandates that parking facilities phase in EV charging infrastructure over the next several years, which means major electrical upgrades and thousands of new charging installations citywide.
Programs like Con Edison’s PowerReady initiative and the state’s Make-Ready program are helping offset the cost for businesses making these changes. But Sajiun cautions that money alone won’t solve the underlying problem.
“Policies and incentives are important, but every project still relies on licensed electricians to carry out the work,” he explains. “The challenge isn’t whether the technology exists. It’s whether there will be enough trained professionals available to install and maintain it properly.”
Without enough skilled workers, even well-funded clean energy plans risk stalling out.
Building the Next Generation of Electricians
For Sajiun, solving the shortage starts with training the next wave of talent. At Sajiun Electric, mentorship isn’t an afterthought; it’s built into how the company operates. New hires work directly alongside experienced electricians, picking up skills that go well beyond what any classroom can teach.
He’s quick to point out that the job demands more than technical know-how. It requires a deep understanding of safety protocols and the responsibility that comes with working on systems that power essential infrastructure.
“Becoming a skilled electrician takes time,” Sajiun says. “There’s no substitute for learning directly from experienced professionals in the field.”
As New York pushes forward with its electrification goals, Sajiun believes workforce development needs to be part of the conversation, not an afterthought. Every charging station, retrofit, and system upgrade depends on people with the skills to actually build it.
In Sajiun’s view, New York’s EV future isn’t just about infrastructure spending. It’s about investing in the workforce that will bring that infrastructure to life.
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