The P&C Workforce: Still a Work in Progress, Part 2
As the conversation during the Pulse of the Industry forum at the 2025 Protection Seminar revealed, developing a skilled workforce in system P&C is still a pressing concern. Demand for talent is growing but worker readiness is still a steep climb for new hires and employers alike.
Thrown Into the Deep End
One attendee had this to say, reflecting a disconnect between academic preparation and the realities of actual employment in P&C-related work:
“I graduated with an electrical engineering degree. I did not see a relay until I was at my job inside a substation control house and there was this relay in front of me.”
His story wasn’t unique. Several attendees spoke about how their college programs focused on so many different subjects that they “only had one class where we talked about a relay, but we never actually saw one.”
New hires in the field of P&C regularly find themselves in a tough position, feeling the pressure to pick things up as quickly as they can while trying to contribute even though they’re still learning. The consensus in the room was that more exposure to relays while in school is needed to prepare graduates for the real world and to help utilities retain and grow talent with onboarding that is less overwhelming and discouraging for everyone involved.
Building Hands-On Experience: Labs and Apprenticeships
Some organizations are investing in hands-on training environments. One participant described a proactive approach:
“We started a lab where we have different types of racks for different types of protections such as line protection, breaker failure, transformer differential… the different schemes we use. We use that lab for any new engineers or technicians where we’re able to test relay settings and we also have them connected to outdoor equipment that’s kinda like ‘dummy’ equipment. It’s been able to help us help the younger engineers understand settings and why we do them and how they protect the system.”
This kind of immersive experience is invaluable. It not only accelerates learning but also demystifies the purpose and function of protection schemes. Apprenticeship programs, though rigorous, offer structured pathways for growth provided they are supported by mentorship and clear expectations.
Mentorship in the Field: Learning by Doing
Mentorship emerged as another critical theme. One attendee shared a simple but effective model:
“The way I started learning was the senior tech said, ‘do everything, I’ll proof-check.’ That was Day 1 in the field. He’s still teaching by checking my work which works well for me to learn as well as for him to teach and still be in the field.”
Learning by doing under the watchful eye of a seasoned professional can be transformative. It fosters accountability, builds confidence, and ensures that knowledge is passed down in real-world contexts.
Early Exposure: Reaching Future Talent
Perhaps the most forward-thinking idea came from a utility working in a rural area:
“Two years in a row now, we’ve actually taken local high school students and given tours… letting them put their hands on a lockout relay, touch a panel… Trying to create the interest four years from now.”
This initiative recognizes that workforce development doesn’t have to start at graduation. By partnering with local schools and community colleges, utilities can spark interest early and build a pipeline of future technicians and engineers who already understand the basics of P&C.
Arrive Early
The comments from the Pulse of the Industry forum make one thing clear: the future of system protection and control depends on intentional, collaborative workforce development. Universities must integrate real-world tools into their curricula. Utilities must invest in labs, apprenticeships, and mentorship. And the industry as a whole must engage with young people long before they enter the workforce.
Additional Information:
Originally published in the The Relay™ Newsletter. Subscribe on LinkedIn.
