DOE: Energy jobs grew in 95% of U.S. counties

Employment in the energy industry grew in nearly every county in 2022, according to data from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

This data builds on national and state-level data that was published in June in the 2023 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER)—a comprehensive summary of national and state-level energy jobs, reporting by industry, technology, and region.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that employment in the energy industry grew in nearly every U.S. county in the U.S. Jobs in the solar industry increased in the largest number of counties. Photo: Adobe Stock

The county-level USEER data provides employment numbers for a range of energy technologies in every county of the United States. Data is reported for five energy sectors: Electric Power Generation; Transmission, Distribution, and Storage; Fuels; Energy Efficiency; and Motor Vehicles and Component Parts. Key county-level findings include:

• Energy employment is increasing in nearly every county across the United States. The number of energy jobs increased in 95% of American counties from 2021 to 2022.
• Energy efficiency jobs are the most widely geographically distributed of all energy sectors, with jobs in nearly all counties in the United States. From 2021 to 2022, energy efficiency jobs increased in 95% of counties in the United States. 
• Motor vehicle jobs are also widely distributed, with jobs in 98% of U.S. counties. One hundred counties have more than 5,000 motor vehicle jobs, and 31 have more than 10,000 jobs.

Solar jobs increased in the largest number of counties of any electric power generation technology, growing in 74% of U.S. counties. Solar is the largest electric power generation technology, and there are solar jobs in 79% of U.S. counties. Solar is the only technology within the electric power sector where any county has over 10,000 workers. All four of these counties are in California: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara.

“This new data confirms what we’ve been seeing and hearing on the ground in states across the country: Bidenomics is working, and the clean energy transformation is creating good jobs in every pocket of America,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “As energy jobs continue to grow thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we’re transforming local economies and delivering healthier and more prosperous communities along the way.”