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The Golden State is a major energy producer and consumer; it is also a leader in the shift toward renewable energy sources. Federal policy and other factors make the trajectory of this shift uncertain, but the skilled workforce in the energy sector is already undergoing changes—with some jobs growing and others shrinking.
A new report from the Public Policy Institute of California outlines key features of the current energy workforce and explores how shifting energy demands may create and narrow worker opportunities. Among the study’s key takeaways:
- Energy workers comprise 5.9 percent of California’s workforce; about a million jobs directly support energy creation, storage, distribution, and consumption. Fossil fuel is a key but relatively small component of the energy workforce: 94,000 jobs or about 10 percent of all energy jobs.
- California’s energy workforce differs significantly from its overall workforce: jobs are predominantly held by men; fewer workers have college degrees; and on-the-job training is more common. In general, energy sector workers face more workplace hazards and exposure to harsher environmental conditions, assume high levels of responsibility for others, and have strong technical skills. Correspondingly, the median hourly wage for energy workers is higher than that of all workers.