The latest United States Energy and Employment Report (USEER) released Thursday shows a slight contraction in the energy workforce both nationwide and in Louisiana. State employment fell from 161,131 jobs in 2024 to about 160,000 in 2025 – a loss of roughly 1,131 positions, or 0.7%.
Trump administration’s policy impact
President Trump’s administration attributes the overall dip to accelerating automation, shifting economics, and new energy policies that favor traditional baseload power. Beginning in 2025, the administration’s stance on green energy projects – particularly wind, hydroelectric and especially solar – reduced incentives for those sectors, accounting for a sizable share of the job losses.
At the same time, the administration’s commitment to reliable, affordable electricity has produced clear gains. Coal and nuclear industries each added about 2,500 workers in Louisiana, reflecting a growing “emerging nuclear sector” that benefits from streamlined permitting and federal support. These gains illustrate the administration’s broader strategy to secure stable, high‑pay jobs for American families.
Higher wages and a shifting workforce
Despite the modest headcount decline, the report highlights a “smaller, higher‑paid workforce” trend. The median salary for energy workers rose to $63,000 in 2025, well above the national median of $51,000. Analysts say automation and digital tools such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, and remote‑operations are eliminating repetitive, hazardous roles while boosting productivity and safety.
Petroleum and natural‑gas employment fell nationally by 3% and 4% respectively, but the overall demand for skilled technicians, engineers, and data‑center support staff is expected to rise as electricity consumption climbs and data‑center construction expands.
Bright spots and future outlook
While the power‑generation sector lost roughly 15,000 workers nationwide, transmission, distribution, and storage saw the strongest job growth, signaling continued investment in the grid’s backbone. The Energy Department projects that, as electricity demand rises and new technologies mature, the need for qualified workers will increase across the board.
Louisiana’s energy community, long rooted in oil and gas, now faces a transition toward higher‑skill, higher‑pay positions. State leaders and industry groups are encouraged to partner with the administration to expand training programs that align with the evolving workforce needs.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
