Electric Utility Workforce Research
Report
Christopher M. Frye / 12/30/10
Utility Workforce Research
Employment Projections
The following section provides estimates and narrative surrounding the anticipated retirement of
professionals and skilled technicians from establishments classified within the Electric Power
Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Industry as classified:
NAICS 2211: Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution, includes:
o Electric Power Generation
o Electric Power Transmission, Control and Distribution
To the extent possible, estimates provided in this report will be based on the industry above; otherwise,
estimates for the higher level designation 22 Utilities will be used with estimates for the more detailed
four digit code above modeled based on established share-ratio or other techniques.
Employment by Age Cohort
The table below provides a snapshot of employment in the industry by age cohort:
Table 1: Employment by Age Cohort (Percentage)1
Age Cohort
Power Generation,
Utilities
All Industries
Transmission &
(NAICS 22)
(Total Non-Farm)
Distribution
(NAICS- Years and Older
1.6
2.2
4.1
Total-
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics , Career Guide to Industries (Utilities), Accessed 12/18/2010.
Data: US Census, Current Population Survey, 2008 (Utilities, All Industries); Power Generation,
Transmission & Distribution based on Current Population Survey, Mar 2010 (Annual Supplement).
1
Data: US Census, Current Population Survey, 2008 (Utilities, All Industries); Power Generation, Transmission &
Distribution based on Current Population Survey, Mar 2010.
2
Outlook Section: See http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs018.htm#outlook
1
Report
Christopher M. Frye / 12/30/10
Table 2: Occupational Projections
(Within Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Industry)
Occupational Category
Employment
Percent
(Of Industry-
Total, all occupations-
Management, business, and financial occupations-
Management occupations-
Business and financial operations occupations-
Professional and related occupations-
Computer and mathematical science occupations-
Architecture and engineering occupations-
Life, physical, and social science occupations-
Legal occupations-
Education, training, and library occupations-
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations-
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations-
Service occupations-
Protective service occupations-
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations-
Sales and related occupations-
Office and administrative support occupations-
Construction and extraction occupations-
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations-
Production occupations-
Transportation and material moving occupations-
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National- Employment Matrix, 221100: Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution.
2
Percent
(Of All Occupations-
Change
-)
Pct
Num
-14.58
-59.0
-17.12
-9.5
-20.56
-5.5
-13.94
-4.0
-12.99
-9.0
-16.65
-2.4
-12.05
-5.0
-10.18
-0.8
-16.48
-0.2
-17.64
0.0
-11.94
-0.2
-17.27
-0.2
-19.72
-1.4
-17.97
-0.8
-22.74
-0.6
-19.15
-1.0
-19.93
-14.5
-20.17
-3.3
-13.08
-15.6
-6.20
-3.3
-23.37
-1.5
Report
Christopher M. Frye / 12/30/10
Table 3: Occupational Projections, Retirements, Contraction, Entrants and Training Needs
(Within Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Industry)
Occupational Category
Current
Retirements
Contraction
Entrants
Employment-
Total, all occupations-
-
Management, business, and financial occupations-
(9.4)
26.7
Management occupations
26.6
5.66
(5.5)
10.3
Business and financial operations occupations
28.7
5.70
(4.0)
16.4
Professional and related occupations-
(8.9)
80.5
Computer and mathematical science occupations
14.5
2.63
(2.5)
6.1
Architecture and engineering occupations
41.6
8.84
(5.0)
56.7
Life, physical, and social science occupations
8.3
2.48
(0.8)
10.4
Legal occupations
1.4
0.23
(0.3)
0.1
Education, training, and library occupations
0.1
0.02
NC
0.0
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
1.7
0.43
(0.2)
1.6
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
1.4
0.29
(0.3)
5.5
Service occupations
7.0
1.81
(1.4)
2.5
Protective service occupations
4.4
1.22
(0.8)
1.1
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
2.6
0.43
(0.6)
1.3
Sales and related occupations
5.1
1.50
(1.0)
0.9
Office and administrative support occupations-
(14.5)
34.6
Construction and extraction occupations
16.2
2.78
(3.3)
4.6
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations-
-
Production occupations-
(3.3)
144.8
Transportation and material moving occupations
6.6
1.58
(1.5)
16.8
Source:
Current Employment (2008): Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Projections, NAICS 221100
Retirements -): Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Projections, Replacement Rate (See Table, Page 6)
Contraction -): Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Projections, NAICS 221100
Entrants: Based on IPEDS and Author Calculations; See Methods
-
+
3
+
=
Training Needs-
Report
Christopher M. Frye / 12/30/10
Table 4: Top 10 Detailed Occupations by Percentage of Jobs within Industry, Selected Indicators
(Within Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution)
Occupation
Employment
(Thousands-
Pct
(of Ind)
Percent Change
-)
w/in
All
Industry
Industries
Openings
(Note A)
Pct of
2008 Emp
Median
Annual
Income
(2008$)
Education
Training
Category
Electrical power-line installers and repairers
52.1
42.4
12.87
-18.58
4.47
16,221
31
$55,100
LT OJT
Power plant operators
24.4
23.9
6.04
-2.23
-1.56
8,374
34
$58,470
LT OJT
Customer service representatives
19.3
17.2
4.76
-10.46
17.74
7,205
37
$29,860
MD OJT
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
17.6
19.5
4.36
10.37
11.53
4,994
28
$61,040
PS VOC
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers
13.1
10.9
3.24
-17.26
4.25
3,167
24
$57,300
WORK EXP
Electrical engineers
12.3
11.2
3.04
-8.99
1.71
2,715
22
$82,160
BA
Meter readers, utilities
11.3
7.4
2.79
-34.92
-19.97
2,534
22
$32,950
ST OJT
Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
8.7
7.1
2.15
-18.56
-1.31
1,099
13
$47,040
MD OJT
Electricians
7.8
6.3
1.93
-19.45
11.94
2,032
26
$46,420
LT OJT
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers
7.5
6.1
1.85
-18.59
-5.24
873
12
$50,440
WORK EXP
Total-
-,213
28
N/A
N/A
Note A: Openings based on derived annual openings as published by BLS for all industries reporting listed occupation. Actual figure based on total number of openings -) for listed
occupation across all industries adjusted by the share of all occupations classified in Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution.
Note: Top 10 occupations by percentage of jobs within industry encompass 43% of 2008 employment in NAICS 221100.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections Program, Tables 1.6 and 1.10; See http://www.bls.gov/emp/#tables
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Christopher M. Frye / 12/30/10
Table 5a: Occupational Projections, Selected Indicators (Method A: CPS Age Cohort)
(Within Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution)
Occupational Category
Employment
Change
Estimated Retirements
Pct of
-)
(Thousands)
2008 Employment-
Pct
Num-
Total
Total, all occupations-
-14.58
-%
Management, business, and financial occupations
55.3
45.9
-17.12
-%
Management occupations
26.6
21.1
-20.56
-%
Business and financial operations occupations
28.7
24.7
-13.94
-%
Professional and related occupations
69.0
60.1
-12.99
-%
Computer and mathematical science occupations
14.5
12.0
-16.65
-%
Architecture and engineering occupations
41.6
36.6
-12.05
-%
Life, physical, and social science occupations
8.3
7.5
-10.18
-%
Legal occupations
1.4
1.1
-16.48
-%
Education, training, and library occupations
0.1
0.1
-%
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
1.7
1.5
-11.94
-%
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
1.4
1.1
-17.27
-%
Service occupations
7.0
5.6
-19.72
-%
Protective service occupations
4.4
3.6
-17.97
-%
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
2.6
2.0
-22.74
-%
Sales and related occupations
5.1
4.1
-19.15
-1.0
0%
Office and administrative support occupations
72.7
58.2
-19.93
-%
Construction and extraction occupations
16.2
12.9
-20.17
-%
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations-
-13.08
-%
Production occupations
53.6
50.3
-6.20
-%
Transportation and material moving occupations
6.6
5.1
-23.37
-%
Note: Estimated Retirements based on Age Cohort Data from Current Population Survey, March 2010;- based on 63+,- based on 55-63.
5
Average Age
-
44.6
44.3
-
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Christopher M. Frye / 12/30/10
Table 5b: Occupational Projections, Selected Indicators (Method B: Replacement Rate & Age Cohort)
(Within Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution)
Occupational Category
Employment
Change
Estimated Retirements
Pct of
Average Age
-)
(Thousands)
2008 Employment
-
Pct
Num-
Total
Total, all occupations-
-14.58
-%
43.7
Management, business, and financial occupations
55.3
45.9
-17.12
-%
47.5
Management occupations
26.6
21.1
-20.56
-%
Business and financial operations occupations
28.7
24.7
-13.94
-%
Professional and related occupations
69.0
60.1
-12.99
-%
44.6
Computer and mathematical science occupations
14.5
12.0
-16.65
-%
Architecture and engineering occupations
41.6
36.6
-12.05
-%
Life, physical, and social science occupations
8.3
7.5
-10.18
-%
Legal occupations
1.4
1.1
-16.48
-%
Education, training, and library occupations
0.1
0.1
-%
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
1.7
1.5
-11.94
-%
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
1.4
1.1
-17.27
-%
Service occupations
7.0
5.6
-19.72
-%
44.3
Protective service occupations
4.4
3.6
-17.97
-%
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
2.6
2.0
-22.74
-%
Sales and related occupations
5.1
4.1
-19.15
-%
34.4
Office and administrative support occupations
72.7
58.2
-19.93
-%
41.6
Construction and extraction occupations
16.2
12.9
-20.17
-%
47.5
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations-
-13.08
-%
40.6
Production occupations
53.6
50.3
-6.20
-%
45.0
Transportation and material moving occupations
6.6
5.1
-23.37
-%
46.7
Note: Estimated Retirements based on replacement rate for each occupation (within all Industries) adjusted by share of occupation in NAICS 221100 industry; estimates for- and- based on share of age cohort represented by 63+ and 55-63 respectively.
6
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Christopher M. Frye / 12/30/10
Table 6: Educational Attainment of Persons Employed, Selected Occupational Categories
(Within Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution)
Occupational Category
8.6%
Bachelor
Degree
22.2%
Master
Degree
7.5%
Post
Secondary
1.5%
4.0%
7.4%
41.9%
24.9%
3.1%
10.3%
9.2%
5.7%
49.6%
18.1%
2.0%
20.4%
5.8%
1.7%
2.8%
1.0%