As the U.S. energy economy continues to evolve, policymakers, workforce leaders, and industry stakeholders face a critical need for timely, detailed labor market intelligence. The 2025 United States Energy & Employment Report (USEER), produced annually by the U.S. Department of Energy with BW Research, provides one of the most comprehensive snapshots of the nation’s energy workforce to date. Drawing on a survey of more than 42,000 businesses alongside federal labor market data, the report tracks employment across five major energy sectors: Fuels; Electric Power Generation; Transmission, Distribution, and Storage; Energy Efficiency; and Motor Vehicles and Component Parts.
In 2024, the U.S. energy sector employed approximately 8.5 million workers—representing 5.4% of all jobs nationwide—and offered a median wage of $58,810, nearly 19% higher than the national median. The report highlights not only the scale and diversity of energy employment, but also the quality of these jobs, with new data on wages, benefits, and hiring challenges across more than 100 occupations.
From traditional fuel production to rapidly growing energy efficiency and electrification sectors, the findings underscore the breadth of opportunities available to workers across education levels and skills. The research also reveals how energy employment is distributed across industries such as construction, manufacturing, and professional services. In this year’s report, employers cited persistent hiring challenges—particularly in technical and skilled trades roles—pointing to the need for targeted workforce development strategies.
Download the full report to explore national and state-level energy workforce trends in greater detail.
