Where the Jobs Are: Energy’s Workforce Opportunity Amid a Cooling Market
The labor market may be cooling, but energy is heating up. While long-term unemployment rises nationally, energy companies are creating jobs faster than they can fill them.
In July, the U.S. unemployment rate held at 4.2%, up from 4.1% in June but still low by historical standards. Beneath that stability, however, a shift is emerging: long-term unemployment has climbed to 1.8 million, with more workers stuck in extended job searches. Hiring is slowing, weighed down by uncertainty around tariffs, technology, and AI-driven automation. For many, that means longer searches — and harder re-entry once they’re out.
Yet in one corner of the economy, the story looks different. Energy companies are not only hiring — they’re struggling to find enough skilled workers to meet demand.
This is the paradox of today’s labor market: stability on the surface, but growing uncertainty underneath. For many industries, slowing demand means fewer openings. But in energy, the story runs in the opposite direction.
The Contrast: Energy Hiring Outpaces the Talent Supply
Unlike sectors pausing or trimming headcount, the energy industry is in growth mode — particularly in clean power, efficiency, and grid modernization. The International Energy Agency projects the global clean energy transition could add 10.3 million net new jobs by 2030.
The challenge isn’t whether jobs exist. It’s whether there are enough skilled workers to fill them.
Solar, wind, electric vehicles, and battery storage are all expanding, but employers report shortages across nearly every job category — from lineworkers to data analysts to project managers.
That shortage is driving a competitive market for talent, where companies must not only hire but also train, reskill, and attract people who may not have seen themselves in energy before.
The Opportunity: Clean Energy Careers Are Growing Everywhere
For workers, this mismatch creates opportunity.
If long-term unemployment is rising in the broader economy, energy could be one of the few sectors where displaced workers — or those looking to pivot mid-career — can find a foothold.
Renewable projects are being built in communities across the U.S., opening doors for workers to find opportunities close to home. Apprenticeships, technical training, and entry-level programs are emerging as the bridge between talent shortages and career pathways.
Unlike many other industries, these jobs come with a sense of purpose baked in: helping power the transition to cleaner, more resilient infrastructure. That purpose translates into higher job satisfaction, with energy professionals reporting pride in contributing to society and strong ties to their teams.
The Implications for Workers: Training, Diversity, and Cultures of Care
The companies that succeed in this labor market will be those that expand the tent. Training programs, apprenticeships, and inclusive initiatives aren’t window dressing — they’re workforce strategy. By widening the pipeline, employers not only fill critical roles but also future-proof their organizations. And it’s not just about recruitment. Culture matters, too.
This year, EDP Renewables, NRG Energy, and Southern Company were named to PEOPLE’s 100 Companies That Care list.
Energy companies are starting to compete not just on wages and benefits, but on how they care for their people. It makes energy a more compelling destination for workers who want stability, growth, and support.
The Bottom Line
While long-term unemployment rises nationally, energy companies are creating jobs faster than they can fill them. The result is an opening — for workers looking for their next career chapter, for employers willing to train and diversify, and for communities ready to power the future.
At a time when job security feels uncertain, energy offers both opportunity and purpose. The labor market may be cooling, but energy is heating up and the companies that pair growth with care are showing the way forward.