Working in the electric power industry
December 03, 2008
The electric power industry is constantly changing to meet the demands of the 21st-century lifestyle. Electricity use continues to rise each year, and new jobs are being created by a push for renewable energy.
[Chart data—TXT]
BLS projects an overall decline in electric power industry employment between 2006 and 2016. Like many industries, however, this one is going through a transition as older workers leave and create openings for workers who will replace them.
Good news for career-minded jobseekers: Electric energy occupations, such as those shown in the chart, pay well above the national median for all occupations (which was $31,410 in 2007), and most offer formal training on the job to workers with a high school diploma. For most of the occupations shown in the chart, the usual training is long-term on-the-job training.
These data are from the Occupational Employment Statistics program. For more information, see "On the grid: Careers in energy," by Phillip Bastian, Occupational Outlook Quarterly, Fall 2008.
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United States Department of Labor
