Energy Jobs Outpaced Overall U.S. Employment in 2021: DOE Report

The U.S. Energy Department on June 28 issued the 2022 U.S. Energy and Employment Report. A key finding of the report was in the face of economic uncertainty, the energy sector undertook optimistic job growth, increasing 4 percent from 2020 to 2021, outperforming general U.S. employment, which climbed 2.8 percent in the corresponding period. In general, the number of energy jobs increased, from 7.5 million in 2020 to more than 7.8 million in 2021. There are in total more than 3 million jobs, 40 percent of total energy jobs, that assist lowering U.S. emissions to zero across a number of sectors, highlighting the roadmap to triumph in reaching President Biden’s goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.

The report shows that jobs crucial to U.S. clean energy transition are on the rise and in position for continued growth due to significant investments from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law provides substantial investments in clean energy infrastructure, including $62 billion for DOE to increase access to energy efficiency and deliver reliable, clean and reasonably priced power to U.S. citizens.  Moreover, the Law encourages transitioning energy communities with investments of $750 million for manufacturing in coal communities and $500 million for clean energy demonstrations on mine lands.

Clean energy was a substantial medium of job growth in many states. The three states with the greatest energy job growth figures were Michigan, California, and Texas. Michigan is leading the way in terms of clean energy job growth.

The report highlights the fact that clean energy sectors continue to expand, creating jobs across the U.S. Moreover, the report validates that achieving an equitable transition to a net zero emissions economy wide by 2050, will require additional public and private investments in the clean energy sector.