On August 28, the U.S. Department of Energy released its annual U.S. Energy and Employment Report, which showed a slight increase in jobs related to bioenergy electric power generation (EPG) over the past year. There was also a rise in employment within the wood biomass and cellulosic fuels sectors, reported Biomass Magazine.
In the bioenergy EPG sector, employment reached 12,857 workers last year, marking a 0.1% increase from 2022. The most significant job growth occurred in the utilities sector.
Women represented 31% of the bioenergy EPG workforce, surpassing the 26% average for the overall energy sector but falling short of the 47% average for the general economy.
As per reports, Veterans made up 11% of the bioenergy EPG workforce, which is higher compared to the 9% in the overall energy sector and the 5% in the national workforce.
Within the bioenergy EPG workforce of 12,857, there were 5,550 workers in construction, 2,834 in professional and business services, 2,367 in utilities, 1,091 in manufacturing, 611 in wholesale trade, and 404 in other services. A significant number of employers in these sectors reported that hiring for bioenergy EPG positions was either very difficult or somewhat difficult last year.
The wood biomass and cellulosic biofuels sector employed 34,542 workers last year, reflecting a 1.1% increase from 2022. The most notable employment growth was in the professional and business services industry, the report further added.
In this sector, 30% of workers were female, compared to 26% in the overall energy workforce and 47% in the general U.S. workforce.
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