Energy careers are uniquely stable and innovative
October 2023
The people behind the power at your electric co-op get to know even higher levels of job satisfaction. It’s a form of business with a commitment to improving the quality of life for the local community.
by Paul Wesslund, Contributing Columnist
The electricity in your home can seem like an impossible miracle to explain. But one way to understand it is to think about the variety of skills and job roles it takes to make that power happen. That kind of thinking can also be handy if you or someone you know is looking for a promising career.
Running electric utilities today takes just about every skill imaginable. Some jobs call for the physical ability to climb a utility pole, others the technical know-how to create intricate cybersecurity systems. Some require the interpersonal skills of talking with a co-op member about how they can lower their electric bill, and others the logistical knowledge to get essential equipment delivered through a challenging supply chain.
An industry that depends on such a vast range of abilities offers job seekers a variety of career opportunities.
This year, Careers in Energy Week is Oct. 16-20. To highlight this unique industry and the many career opportunities it offers, here are four ways the unique characteristics of electric co-ops make them a great place to work:
1. STABILITY. You can count on homes and businesses needing electricity now and in the future. One analysis predicts electricity demand will grow even faster in the 2020s than it has in the previous two decades. Energy careers offer excellent benefits and paths for career advancement. Employees typically stay in the industry for more than 15 years.
The energy industry depends on a vast range of abilities, which means job seekers have access to various career opportunities.
2. EXCITEMENT. While utility work is reliable, it’s also at the cutting edge of innovation. Electrification is the centerpiece of the push for greener energy. The number of electric vehicles is doubling every year, which means new workforce skills are needed to figure out how to keep all those cars and trucks plugged in and charged up. Two of the 20 fastest-growing occupations are wind turbine technician and solar voltaic installer. More than $120 billion a year is being spent to modernize the U.S. electric grid to manage new patterns of electricity use. The energy industry is changing, and it’s an exciting time to be part of it.
3. VARIETY. The skills needed in the utility industry range from advanced college degrees to trade school, apprenticeship and on-the-job training. And the range of positions is staggering — accountants, social media managers, IT specialists, engineers, human resources professionals. There are more unique positions as well — drone operators to inspect power lines, data analysts to coordinate the flow of electricity, and power plant operators to oversee electricity generation.
Running electric utilities today takes about every skill imaginable, from hands-on experience in the field to interpersonal skills to assist co-op members.
4. IT’S LOCAL. The thing about electricity is that maintaining the service needs to happen nearby. That means that much of the work takes place near your hometown. Not only can a utility worker make a living and raise a family in the place they choose to live, but if they decide to move to another part of the country, there will likely be energy career opportunities there as well.
Electric co-ops offer a unique business model that’s led by the members who use the electricity. It’s a form of business with a commitment to improving the quality of life for the local community, which can call for jobs like partnering with local groups to bring broadband to rural areas or work that’s as essential and profound as keeping the lights on.
Paul Wesslund writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.