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Are Electricians Safe From AI? What BLS and O*NET Show

Updated About 3 min read

BLS projects employment of electricians to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. O*NET task descriptions center on installing and repairing wiring and equipment, testing circuits and diagnosing breakdowns, and inspecting systems for hazards and code compliance.

Checked against BLS, O*NET and TDLR on October 17, 2026.

BLS also says increasing use of AI technologies and demand for data centers are expected to contribute to rising electricity demand. BLS expects the related grid upgrades and new infrastructure to create job opportunities for electricians who install and connect electrical systems and power generation sources to the grid.

What the projection says

The BLS projection is a national employment projection for the occupation from 2025 to 2035. It is not a promise about a person, employer or Texas metro. BLS prints the outlook as “much faster than the average for all occupations” and projects about 72,700 openings each year, on average, over the decade.

What the work asks a person to do

O*NET describes a mixed job rather than one repeatable action. Tasks include preparing sketches or following blueprints, placing conduit and pulling cable, connecting wires to circuit breakers or transformers, testing circuits, diagnosing breakdowns, inspecting for hazards or defects, and repairing or replacing wiring and equipment.

The work context is hands-on and accuracy-sensitive. In O*NET responses, 96 percent said using the hands to handle, control or feel objects, tools or controls happens continually or almost continually, and 76 percent said being exact or accurate is extremely important. O*NET also reports hazardous conditions and hazardous equipment as daily exposures for many respondents.

How to think about the AI question

Separate the occupation into tasks. Records, reports and estimates are part of the O*NET list, alongside installation, testing, diagnosis, inspection and repair. Use the tool below to see the field tasks in the official description, then compare those tasks with the kind of work you want to learn.

Free tool: task reality check

Pick one part of the work to see O*NET wording summarized for that task group.

O*NET lists assembling, installing, testing or maintaining wiring and equipment with hand tools or power tools, plus repairing or replacing wiring, equipment or fixtures.

The Texas license path still matters

TDLR licenses an Electrical Apprentice to perform electrical work under the general supervision of a Master Electrician, Journeyman Electrician or Residential Wireman. TDLR lists no experience qualification and no examination requirement for that apprentice license. For a Journeyman Electrician license, TDLR permits an application after at least 7,000 supervised on-the-job training hours, which allows the applicant to take the examination before reaching the full 8,000 hours required for licensure.

Continue with the earlier electrician career-change overview.

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Not a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas or any U.S. state. Does not offer engineering services. Exam-prep education only.