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The U.S. Department of Defense relies heavily on energy to maintain its military capability, with over 85 million barrels of fuel consumed annually, costing nearly $9.2 billion. The department spends $3.4 billion on energy to power numerous facilities and non-tactical vehicles across over 500 military installations worldwide.
Recently, the Energy: Enabling the Defense of Nation seminar was held by Career Communications Group, featuring speakers who discussed energy resilience, emerging technologies, and cyber security risks associated with energy supply.
The 2023 U.S. Energy and Employment Report by the Department of Energy reveals a 3.8% growth in the energy workforce in 2022, adding almost 300,000 jobs with clean energy jobs increasing in every state.
Unionized employers experienced less difficulty in hiring qualified workers and invested more in diversity and inclusion efforts, resulting in more women and veterans being employed in the energy sector.
The report also shows that unionized employers have a higher rate of formal diversity, equity, and inclusion plans, making them an attractive option for skilled workers. The highest unionization rate was found in the transmission, distribution, and storage sectors, which also had a higher percentage of non-white workers.
The growth in energy jobs is a positive sign for addressing the climate crisis and promoting job creation, and economic development nationwide.
The Investing in America agenda and historic investments in energy infrastructure and domestic supply chains are creating unprecedented demand for workers in the energy sector, making it easier for unionized employers to recruit and hire skilled workers while promoting diversity, equity, and job quality.