Duke Energy joins national Careers Electric™ coalition to build next-generation energy workforce

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) joined the new national Careers Electric coalition to support workforce development in electrical trades, with a focus on North Carolina.

Rhea-AI Summary

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) joined the new national Careers Electric coalition to support workforce development in electrical trades, with a focus on North Carolina. The coalition aims to train 25,000 workers over 10 years, addressing projected ~10% growth in electrical careers and widening workforce gaps.

Duke Energy plans to connect students to jobs, fund training capacity via its foundation (over $6 million in the past five years), back local program expansion, and engage students early. In 2026, high school programs target 200–250 students, while 10 community colleges aim to expand advanced electrician programs by 20% over three years.

Argus Jun 11 session

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Details

News Market Reaction – DUK

On Jun 11, the day this news came out, DUK closed 0.68% below the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jun 11 session.

Key Figures

Workforce training goal: 25,000 workers Program horizon: 10 years Projected job growth: 10% +5 more

Workforce training goal

25,000 workers

Target trainees over next 10 years via Careers Electric

Program horizon

10 years

Timeframe for Careers Electric workforce initiative

Projected job growth

10%

Projected electrical career growth over next decade

Training support funding

$6 million

Duke Energy Foundation workforce pipeline support over past five years

High school trainees 2026

200–250 students

2026 training target for North Carolina high school pathway

Community colleges involved

10 colleges

North Carolina community colleges expanding advanced electrician programs

Program expansion

20%

Planned expansion of advanced electrician programs over next three years

Electric capacity

55,700 megawatts

Owned energy capacity across Duke Energy’s electric utilities

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jun 06

5 events

1. Jun 06

   Customer tips program

   24h Move

   -1.2%

   Energy-saving tips and programs to help Carolinas customers manage summer bills.

2. Jun 05

   HERO grants support

   24h Move

   +2.0%

   Duke Energy Foundation’s $500,000 HERO grants for South Carolina emergency preparedness.

3. Jun 05

   DOE grant funding

   24h Move

   +2.0%

   Up to $61.8 million in DOE grants for coal plant reliability and refurbishment projects.

4. Jun 04

   Small business grants

   24h Move

   +0.6%

   Foundation commits $500,000 to nonprofit-led programs aiding North Carolina small businesses.

5. Jun 03

   Site readiness success

   24h Move

   -0.0%

   Site Readiness Program tied to USA Rare Earth’s $1.2 billion plant and 490 jobs.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

electrification, megawatts

2 terms

electrification technical

"As electrification accelerates across energy, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, electrical careers..."

Electrification is the process of replacing systems that run on fuel or other energy sources with electric-powered ones, such as switching from gasoline engines to electric motors. It matters to investors because it often signals a shift toward cleaner, more sustainable energy use, potentially transforming industries and creating new opportunities for growth and innovation.

megawatts technical

"serve 8.7 million customers ... and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity."

A megawatt is a measure of electrical power equal to one million watts, describing how much electricity a plant or device can generate or use at a single moment. Investors use megawatts to compare the size and earning potential of energy projects—larger capacity usually means more electricity to sell—much like comparing the horsepower of engines to judge how much work they can do. Knowing megawatts helps assess scale, revenue potential, and grid impact of energy assets.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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• The coalition aims to train 25,000 workers over the next 10 years, creating pathways to stable, well-paying careers

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy has joined the newly launched Careers Electric coalition, a new sector-driven approach to workforce development in America's skilled trades, with a targeted focus on North Carolina.

Why it matters: As electrification accelerates across energy, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, electrical careers are projected to grow by roughly 10% over the next decade, with workforce gaps widening as experienced workers retire.

Our role: Duke Energy will help connect training to real-world job opportunities and ensure programs are aligned with industry needs, with a focus on commercial electricians, where demand is most acute. The company will:

• Connect students to careers: Partner with companies like Zachry Group to create clearer pathways from training to job opportunities, particularly tied to major energy infrastructure and generation projects.
• Invest in training capacity: Support community colleges and workforce programs through Duke Energy Foundation funding, which has provided more than $6 million over the past five years to strengthen the energy workforce pipeline.
• Support local expansion: Champion new or expanded programs near Duke Energy construction sites to better align workforce supply with regional demand.
• Engage students early: Participate in graduation events and career fairs at training academies to raise awareness of electrical careers and connect students directly to employers.

North Carolina focus: The coalition's early work in North Carolina could become a blueprint for other states and centers on two key pathways:

• High schools: In 2026, the program aims to train 200-250 students and plans to scale annually.
• Community colleges: Ten North Carolina community colleges will expand existing advanced electrician programs by 20% over the next three years, with plans to grow to additional schools.

What they're saying:

• Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy's North Carolina president: "The energy transition and our state's growth depend on a strong skilled workforce. We're grateful to Siemens for their leadership in launching Careers Electric and bringing partners together for this first-of-its-kind effort. This initiative is about creating clear, accessible pathways into high-paying electrical careers – especially those that don't require a four-year degree – and helping build a pipeline of electricians ready to support North Carolina's future."
• David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation: "High-quality workforce training is essential not only to meet employers' growing demand for skilled talent, but also to expand access to well-paying trade careers for more Americans. Seeing industry leaders, including competitor companies, come together as part of this powerful coalition underscores just how important workforce training is to the strength of our economies and communities."

Who's involved: Duke Energy joins founding industry partners ABB, Amazon Web Services, JetZero, Hitachi Energy and Siemens, alongside workforce development organizations and education leaders working to scale proven training models nationwide.

Local partners include:

• NC Chamber, NC Department of Commerce, NC Electric Cooperatives
• NC Business Committee for Education, Wake Technical Community College, NC Community College System Office and Foundation, EVITP, and Families and Workers Fund

Duke Energy 
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

Contact: Madison McDonald
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/duke-energy-joins-national-careers-electric-coalition-to-build-next-generation-energy-workforce-302798144.html

SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What is Duke Energy's role in the Careers Electric coalition for workforce training?

Duke Energy is helping align electrician training with real-world jobs and industry needs. According to the company, it will connect students to employers, fund community colleges and workforce programs, support local expansion, and engage students through events and career fairs.

How many workers will the Careers Electric coalition aim to train and over what period?

The Careers Electric coalition aims to train 25,000 workers over the next 10 years. According to Duke Energy, this long-term goal supports growing demand for electricians as electrification accelerates across energy, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing sectors.

How does Duke Energy (DUK) plan to support North Carolina electrician training in 2026?

In 2026, Duke Energy plans to support training for 200–250 high school students in North Carolina. According to the company, this effort is part of Careers Electric’s early work and is intended to scale annually as demand for skilled electricians grows.

What investments has Duke Energy made in the energy workforce pipeline?

Duke Energy reports that its foundation has provided more than $6 million over the past five years to strengthen the energy workforce pipeline. According to the company, this funding supports community colleges and workforce programs focused on skilled energy careers.

How will North Carolina community colleges expand electrician programs under Careers Electric?

Ten North Carolina community colleges plan to expand advanced electrician programs by 20% over the next three years. According to Duke Energy, these expansions aim to better align workforce supply with regional demand near major energy construction sites.

Which companies and organizations partner with Duke Energy in the Careers Electric coalition?

Duke Energy joins founding partners ABB, Amazon Web Services, JetZero, Hitachi Energy and Siemens in Careers Electric. According to Duke Energy, local partners include the NC Chamber, NC Department of Commerce, NC Electric Cooperatives, and several education-focused organizations.

Why does Duke Energy say electrical careers are important for North Carolina's future?

Duke Energy links electrical careers to the energy transition and North Carolina’s growth. According to the company, a strong skilled workforce of electricians is needed to support grid modernization, major energy infrastructure projects, and the state’s expanding energy and manufacturing needs.