U.S., Louisiana energy workforce declined in 2024-2025
The US and Louisiana energy sector workforce saw a 1% decline between 2024 and 2025, primarily due to accelerating automation, changing policies, and shifting economics. Despite this decline, demand for energy workers is projected to increase in the future, driven by rising electricity demand and expanding data centers.
The energy sector workforce in both the United States and Louisiana experienced a roughly 1% decline from 2024 to 2025, according to an annual report from the Department of Energy (DOE). Louisiana alone lost 1,131 energy jobs, dropping from 161,131 to 160,000, while the national sector shed 86,000 workers.
This downturn was largely attributed to accelerating automation, evolving government policies, and shifting economic factors. The report highlighted that policies implemented by the Trump administration in 2025 negatively impacted green energy sectors, with solar, wind, and hydroelectric power accounting for the majority of job losses. Petroleum and natural gas industries also saw national job decreases of 3% and 4% respectively.
Despite the overall decline, the DOE projects an increase in demand for energy workers as electricity consumption rises and data centers continue to expand. The report noted a structural shift towards a smaller, higher-paid workforce, with the median salary in the energy sector reaching $63,000 in 2025. Furthermore, efforts to bolster traditional baseload power led to job gains in the coal and nuclear industries, with Louisiana's emerging nuclear sector benefiting.