Workforce development has risen in prominence over the past few years as employers face an increasingly tight labor market. Amid a growing gig economy, and robust job market, there may not be enough people to fill all open jobs in the country. Even if every unemployed person were to fill a job tomorrow, there would still be millions of unfilled jobs.
For energy employers, the challenge in securing talent is exacerbated by unprecedented hiring demands within the sector: employers will need 17 million replacement workers and 15 million new workers over the next decade.
These hiring demands reflect growth in power demand, a trend which is expected to accelerate. Moreover, the utility industry often competes for talent with the technology industry, which has the fastest growth in green skill demand. The utility industry also competes with all other infrastructure-building industries for construction workers. As power demand grows, these workforce trends will likely intensify. 2024 marked the end of a two-decade era of flat demand amid a data center and manufacturing infrastructure boom. U.S. electricity consumption rose by 2% – a growth rate that is expected to hold in 2025 and in 2026 and primarily be met with increased generation from renewables.
Because of the importance – and many would say, urgency – of prioritizing workforce development, Deloitte and CEWD teamed up to create this resource perspective that offers the first of its kind Workforce Development Maturity Model.
