EEI > Issues & Policy > Workforce
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Workforce
Key Facts
7 million+
American Jobs
As a whole, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million American jobs, equivalent to about 5% of all jobs in the United States. This includes nearly 2.7 million jobs directly provided through electric power industry employees, contractors and supply chain, and investments, and an additional 4.4 million induced jobs.
1 in 20
Jobs In America
One in every 20 jobs in America depends on the electric power industry. Each job directly provided by the electric power industry supports an additional 1.7 jobs throughout U.S. communities.
Veterans Are ~10%
Of The Workforce
Military veterans are uniquely suited for a second career in the energy industry and represent approximately 10 percent of the workforce.
Powering America: The Economic and Workforce Contributions of the U.S. Electric Power Industry
A new report by M.J. Bradley & Associates, Powering America: The Economic & Workforce Contributions of the U.S. Electric Power Industry, gives a comprehensive analysis of the economic and employment contributions of the electric power industry and features employee profiles illustrating the high-quality jobs in the industry. The report is based on an economic impact study performed by Economic Modeling Specialists International using official, government-collected data, and was conducted for the Edison Electric Institute, the American Public Power Association, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
 
The study finds that the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities throughout the country—that’s 1 in every 20 American jobs. The report also reinforces that the electric power industry underpins many other sectors of the economy, contributing $880 billion annually to U.S. GDP, or 5 percent of total GDP.
Full Report
Key Facts
EEI Members Powering America
Jennifer Watters
Jennifer is a generation project manager who oversees major projects at American Electric Power’s (AEP’s) power plants, including the most recent construction of universal solar power plants for Indiana Michigan Power Company (I&M).
Cassandra Wheeler
Cassandra is a plant manager for Georgia Power’s Plant Hammond in northwest Georgia. Serving in this position since May 2014, Wheeler is responsible for overseeing the safe, reliable, and efficient generation of electricity and providing overall leadership for operations for the four-unit plant.
More Employee Profiles
Delivering The Future - People In Power
Workforce Development Programs
Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD)
CEWD is a non-profit consortium of electric, natural gas, and nuclear utilities and their associations focused on building a skilled workforce pipeline to meet future industry needs
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Troops to Energy Jobs
Troops to Energy Jobs is a collaboration among CEWD, EEI, and EEI member companies that makes it easier for veterans to translate their skills and training into rewarding energy careers.
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Veterans in Energy
Veterans in Energy is a national employee resource group that provides transition, retention and professional development support to military veterans working in the energy industry
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Additional Resources
Electric Perspectives, July/August 2018
Pathways Into Energy Careers
Electric Perspectives, May/June 2018
Inspiring a New Generation of Energy Leaders
Electric Perspectives, March/April 2018
The Energy Workforce Pipeline
Electric Perspectives, January/February 2018
Inclusivity in Workforce Development
July 2018
Alliant Energy Power Volunteer Blitz
July 2018
FirstEnergy Uses Drones to Inspect Protected Bird Nests
August 2017
Powering America
August 2017
The Economic and Workforce Contributions of the U.S. Electric Power Industry