2027 Pathways to Power: Student Workforce Summit

The power generation industry is hiring at a pace it hasn't seen in decades — and the opportunities are only growing. Industry leaders from utilities, EPCs and labor organizations discuss what's driving demand, from AI and data center construction to grid modernization and the resurgence of gas and nuclear generation. Students will learn why skilled trades careers in power generation offer long-term stability, competitive compensation and clear progression into leadership, and why the work they're training for is the foundation the entire economy depends on. 

Hear directly from craft workers, technicians and early-career professionals who are building their careers in the power generation industry today. Panelists from utilities, EPC firms and contractors share how they entered the industry, what the work actually looks like day to day, and where it's taken them — from the tools to the office and beyond. This session puts students face to face with people close to their own age and experience level who are living the career paths the summit is designed to showcase. 

Interested in the industry but not sure what to do next? Representatives from training organizations, community colleges, apprenticeship programs and workforce development leaders walk students through the practical routes into the power generation workforce — registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeship programs, community college trade pathways, competency-based training models and more. Whether students are exploring open shop or union career tracks, this panel answers the most important question: what's my next step?