POWER June 2016 - 24

WORKFORCE
Managing Multiple Generations
Across a Smooth-Running Fleet
Courtesy: XPlore Technologies
Power generators have always had to make some changes as each new generation
enters the sector, but today's new workers are bringing with them attitudes and
skills that challenge traditional plant management, for good and ill. Here's what
some companies and plants are doing to make the best use of younger workers
while getting them to work efficiently alongside older generations.
Thomas W. Overton
A
ccording to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS), the median age of
workers in the electric power generation,
transmission, and distribution sector in
2015 was 45.7. This figure is higher than the
U.S. average (42.3) as well as median figures
for mining (40.8), manufacturing (44.4),
and construction (42.7). Of the total 661,000
workers in the electric power sector, 502,000
are 35 or older, 343,000 are 45 and older, and
166,000 are 55 and older.
Those numbers are likely no surprise to
those in the field, where the challenges of an
aging workforce have been an oft-remarkedupon
issue (see sidebar). While some industrial
sectors such as mining and construction
have been able to attract younger workers,
the power sector has traditionally skewed
older (Figure 1). There are many reasons for
this, among them, the facts that more extensive
training is often required than for other
professions and that many workers enter the
22
power sector after sometimes-lengthy careers
in the military (see " Veterans Bring Needed
Skills to the Utility Industry " in the June
2014 issue).
Tom McDonnell, power generation industry
leader at Rockwell Automation, who
spoke to POWER by email, laid out what this
means.
" Generators, " he said, " face the loss of
critical knowledge and the inability to find
1. An aging workforce. The age distribution of workers in the electric power sector
skews older than for comparable industries such as mining and construction. In this chart, the
electric power and mining sectors, and U.S. total, are plotted on the left axis, while construction
and manufacturing are plotted on the right axis. Numbers are in thousands, except for U.S.
total, which is in hundreds of thousands. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
■ Electric Power ■ Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction ■ U.S. total ■ Construction ■ Manufacturing
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
16 to 19 20 to 24 25 to 34
www.powermag.com
35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64
Age of workers
POWER | June 2016
65-plus
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
Number of workers

http://www.powermag.com

POWER June 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of POWER June 2016

Contents
POWER June 2016 - Cover1
POWER June 2016 - Cover2
POWER June 2016 - Contents
POWER June 2016 - 2
POWER June 2016 - 3
POWER June 2016 - 4
POWER June 2016 - 5
POWER June 2016 - 6
POWER June 2016 - 7
POWER June 2016 - 8
POWER June 2016 - 9
POWER June 2016 - 10
POWER June 2016 - 11
POWER June 2016 - 12
POWER June 2016 - 13
POWER June 2016 - 14
POWER June 2016 - 15
POWER June 2016 - 16
POWER June 2016 - 17
POWER June 2016 - 18
POWER June 2016 - 19
POWER June 2016 - 20
POWER June 2016 - 21
POWER June 2016 - 22
POWER June 2016 - 23
POWER June 2016 - 24
POWER June 2016 - 25
POWER June 2016 - 26
POWER June 2016 - 27
POWER June 2016 - 28
POWER June 2016 - 29
POWER June 2016 - 30
POWER June 2016 - 31
POWER June 2016 - 32
POWER June 2016 - 33
POWER June 2016 - 34
POWER June 2016 - 35
POWER June 2016 - 36
POWER June 2016 - 37
POWER June 2016 - 38
POWER June 2016 - 39
POWER June 2016 - 40
POWER June 2016 - 41
POWER June 2016 - 42
POWER June 2016 - 43
POWER June 2016 - 44
POWER June 2016 - 45
POWER June 2016 - 46
POWER June 2016 - 47
POWER June 2016 - 48
POWER June 2016 - 49
POWER June 2016 - 50
POWER June 2016 - 51
POWER June 2016 - 52
POWER June 2016 - 53
POWER June 2016 - 54
POWER June 2016 - 55
POWER June 2016 - 56
POWER June 2016 - 57
POWER June 2016 - 58
POWER June 2016 - 59
POWER June 2016 - 60
POWER June 2016 - 61
POWER June 2016 - 62
POWER June 2016 - 63
POWER June 2016 - 64
POWER June 2016 - 65
POWER June 2016 - 66
POWER June 2016 - Cover3
POWER June 2016 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/pwr_november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/re-tech-supp-to-power-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-and-re-tech-supp-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/Power-October-2022-140th-Anniversary-Supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/Power-October-2022-and-Anniversary-Supp
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-and-re-tech-supp-september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/Power-July-2022-Intl
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2022-intl
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2022-intl
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/Power-April-2022-Intl
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-top-plants-supp-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-april-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-march-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-february-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-january-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-december-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-november-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-october-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-september-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-august-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-july-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-june-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/accessintelligence/POWER/power-may-2010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com