The Need for Electricians is on the Rise

The Need for Electricians is on the Rise The end of the Great Recession is worthy of celebration for several reasons, but one group of tradespeople may have even more reason to rejoice than the rest of the population: electricians. Why? Because with the recession behind them and a construction boom imminent, they are positioned to be in great demand in the years ahead. Here’s what you need to know. There’s a reason he’s so happy.A Closer Look at the NumbersAccording to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for electricians is expected to grow by a whopping 20 percent between 2012 and 2022. This significantly exceeds the average growth for all occupations.Why the increase? Jobs for electricians fluctuate based on the health of the overall economy. In times of stagnation and recession, demand for construction and maintenance drops leading to fewer jobs for these trained professionals.When the economy is healthy, however, the construction building and ma intenance industry thrives - meaning more jobs await those with the right training and qualifications.Not only that, but many older electricians turned to other types of work during the recession-era shortage. Their absence now leaves the door open to new workers in the field. Particularly with so much buzz surrounding the challenges of job seekers with bachelor’s degrees, the in-demand nature of electrical work makes it a more popular choice than ever.And considering that nearly every building has some form of electrical power, a building boom means terrific prospects for electricians.Not Just More Work, But Different WorkOther factors affecting the job market for electricians? Emerging technology related to alternative power generation - everything from solar to wind - will challenge electricians in new and exciting ways. From installation to linking these alternative sources of power to the grids, these responsibilities are expected to land with electricians, although g overnment policy may determine the extent to which employment opportunities occur.And while some manufacturing plants will shut down due to old or inefficient facilities, these closures should be outpaced by the installation and maintenance related to new manufacturing plants.What You Need to KnowElectricians require a high school diploma or its equivalent. Additionally, the majority of electricians learn the trade through a four to five year apprenticeship program, while others attend trade school. Nearly every state requires licensing before electricians can practice. This varies from state to state but typically includes a test on requirements related to electrical codes. What does it take to make it as an electrician? They typically have strong business, critical thinking, customer service, and troubleshooting skills.Because more and more people are becoming aware of the career promise in electrical work, the competition is stiff with hundreds of candidates applying for a handfu l of apprenticeships in certain regions. However, pursuing your goals despite the competition is largely regarded as worth it considering that many apprentices make more than many debt-burdened college grads: a median pay of just under $50,000 with the top earners making as much as $83,000.Even better? Ten percent of electricians are self-employed and can set their own hours.While the forecast for licensed electricians may not have looked sunny in the height of the recession, the current outlook is beyond bright - and more than reason enough to give this profession another look. Wondering about positions for electricians near you? Sign up for the innovative to get started.While the forecast for licensed electricians may not have looked sunny in the height of the recession, the current outlook is beyond bright - and more than reason enough to give this profession another look.

Southern Stingray Facts and Information

Southern Stingray Facts and Information Southern stingrays, also called Atlantic southern stingrays, are a normally docile animal that frequents warm, shallow coastal waters. Description Southern stingrays have a diamond-shaped disc that is dark brown, gray or black on its upper side and white on the lower side. This helps southern stingrays camouflage themselves in the sand, where they spend most of their time. Southern stingrays have a long, whip-like tail with a barb at the end that they use for defense, but they rarely use it against humans unless they are provoked. Female southern stingrays grow much larger than males. Females grow to about a 6-foot span, while males about 2.5 feet. Its maximum weight is about 214 pounds. The southern stingrays eyes are on top of its head, and behind them are two spiracles, which allow the stingray to take in oxygenated water. This water is expelled from the stingrays gills on its underside. Classification Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: ElasmobranchiiOrder: MyliobatiformesFamily: DasyatidaeGenus: DasyatisSpecies: Americana Habitat and Distribution The southern stingray is a warm water species and inhabits primarily shallow tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean (as far north as New Jersey), the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Feeding Southern stingrays eat bivalves, worms, small fish, and crustaceans. Since their prey is often buried in the sand, they un-bury it by forcing streams of water out their mouth or flapping their fins over the sand. They find their prey using electro-reception and their excellent senses of smell and touch. Reproduction Little is known about the mating behavior of southern stingrays, as it has not been observed often in the wild. A paper in the Environmental Biology of Fishes reported that a male followed a female, engaged in pre-copulatory biting, and then the two mated. Females may mate with multiple males during the same breeding season. Females are ovoviviparous. After a gestation of 3-8 months, 2-10 pups are born, with an average of 4 pups born per litter. Status and Conservation The IUCN Red List states that the southern stingray is of least concern in the U.S. because its population appears to be healthy. But overall, it is listed as data deficient, because there is little information available on population trends, bycatch, and fishing in the rest of its range. A large ecotourism industry has arisen around southern stingrays. Stingray City in the Cayman Islands is a popular destination for tourists, who come to observe and feed the swarms of stingrays that gather there. While the stingrays animals are usually nocturnal, research conducted in 2009 showed that the organized feeding is affecting the stingrays, so that instead of eating during the night, they eat all day and sleep all night. Southern stingrays are preyed upon by sharks and other fishes. Their primary predator is the hammerhead shark. Sources Arkive. 2009. Southern Stingray (Dasyatis Americana). (Online) Arkive. Accessed April 12, 2009.MarineBio.org. 2009. Dasyatis Americana, Southern Stingray (Online). MarineBio.org. Accessed April 12, 2009.Monterey Bay Aquarium. 2009. Southern Stingray (Online) Monterey Bay Aquarium. Accessed April 12, 2009.Passarelli, Nancy and Andrew Piercy. 2009. Southern Stingray. (Online) Florida Museum of Natural History, Department of Ichthyology. Accessed April 12, 2009.