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Nebraska
ENERGY AND EMPLOYMENT — 2020Overview
Nebraska has an average concentration of energy employment, with
25,473 Traditional Energy workers statewide (representing 0.7 percent ofall U.S. Traditional Energy jobs). Of these Traditional Energy workers,
6,364 are in Electric Power Generation, 4,421 are in Fuels, and 14,688 are inTransmission, Distribution, and Storage. The Traditional Energy sector inNebraska is 2.6 percent of total state employment (compared to 2.3
percent of national employment). Nebraska has an additional 13,949 jobs
in Energy Efficiency (0.6 percent of all U.S. Energy Efficiency jobs) and
17,844 jobs in Motor Vehicles (0.7 percent of all U.S. Motor Vehicle jobs).
Figure NE-1.
Employment by Major Energy Technology Application
20,00018,006 17,844

18,00015,29516,00014,68814,00013,533 13,949

12,00010,0008,000

6,350 6,364

6,000

4,319 4,421

4,000
2,000
Electric Power
GenerationFuels

Transmission, Energy Efficiency
Distribution, andStorage2018Motor Vehicles

2019

Overall, Traditional Energy jobs declined by 1.9 percent since the 2019
report, decreasing by 492 jobs over the period. Energy Efficiency jobs
added 416 jobs (3.1 percent) and motor vehicles lost 162 jobs (-0.9percent).

NE — 1U S E N E R G Y + E M P L O Y M E N T R E P O R T 2 0 2 0 | Nebraska

Breakdown by Technology Applications
ELECTRIC POWER GENERATIONElectric Power Generation employs 6,364 workers in Nebraska, 0.7
percent of the national total and adding 14 jobs over the past year (0.2percent). Solar makes up the largest segment of employment related toElectric Power Generation, with 1,893 jobs (up 2.0 percent), followed bytraditional fossil fuel generation at 1,079 jobs (down -2.8 percent).
Figure NE-2.
Electric Power Generation Employment by Detailed Technology Application
1,893

1,840

Less than 50%
solar: 561

Majority of+me solar:
1,332394

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Construction is the largest industry sector in Electric Power Generation,with 63.8 percent of jobs. Utilities are next with 10.3 percent.
Figure NE-3.
Electric Power Generation by Industry Sector
4,062

657

Utilities

Construction

403

505

Manufacturing

Trade

NE — 2645
93
Professional
Services

Other Services

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FUELS
Fuels employs 4,421 workers in Nebraska, 0.4 percent of the national total,
up 2.3 percent over the past year. Corn ethanol makes up the largest
segment of employment related to Fuels.
Figure NE-4.
Fuels Employment by Detailed Technology Application
2,351

743

902

117
Coal

79
Oil & OtherPetroleum

Natural Gas Corn Ethanol Other Ethanol/ Non-woody
Biomass47
Woody
Biomass

181
Other Fuels

Wholesale trade jobs represent 50.6 percent of Fuels jobs in Nebraska.
Figure NE-5.
Fuels Employment by Industry Sector

2,238889
564456264
9Agriculture and Mining &Forestry
Extraction

Construction Manufacturing

NE — 3

Trade

Professional Other Services
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TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND STORAGE
Transmission, Distribution, and Storage employs 14,688 workers inNebraska, 1.1 percent of the national total, down 4.0 percent or 607 jobs
since the 2018 report.
Figure NE-6.
Transmission, Distribution and Storage Employment by Detailed Technology
10,662

3,751

Traditional Transmissionand Distribution

19481

Storage

Smart Grid

Micro Grid & OtherConstruction is responsible for the largest percentage of Transmission,
Distribution, and Storage jobs in Nebraska, with 45.4 percent of such jobs
statewide.
Figure NE-7.
Transmission, Distribution and Storage Employment by Industry Sector
6,664

2,298

1,754

1,480

983

1,469

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Utilities40

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ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The 13,949 Energy Efficiency jobs in Nebraska represent 0.6 percent of all
U.S. Energy Efficiency jobs, adding 416 jobs (3.1 percent) since last year.
The largest number of these employees work in (high efficiency HVAC andrenewable heating and cooling firms, followed by traditional HVAC.
Figure NE-8.
Energy Efficiency Employment by Detailed Technology Application
4,425
3,351
2,2271,571

Energy Star &Efficient Lighting

Traditional HVACHigh Efficiency & Advanced Materials
Renewable Heating and Insulation& Cooling

2,375

Other

Energy Efficiency employment is primarily found in the constructionindustry.
Figure NE-9.
Energy Efficiency Employment by Industry Sector
9,235

1,225

1,417

1,809
263

Construction Manufacturing

Trade

Professional Other Services
Services

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MOTOR VEHICLES
Motor Vehicle employment accounts for 17,844 jobs in Nebraska, down 162
jobs over the past year (-0.9 percent). The industry sector that accounts
for the largest fraction of Motor Vehicle jobs is repair and maintenance.
Figure NE-10.
Motor Vehicle Employment by Industry Sector
6,884

6,361

2,955
1,330
315
Manufacturing

Trade

Professional
Services

Repair andMaintenanceCommodity Flows

Workforce Characteristics
EMPLOYER GROWTH
Employers in Nebraska are similarly optimistic to their peers across thecountry in regards to their job growth over the next year in Traditional
Energy (3.0 percent versus 3.2 percent nationally). Energy Efficiency
employers expect to add 444 jobs in Energy Efficiency (3.2 percent) andMotor Vehicles employers expect to add 707 jobs (4.0 percent) over thenext year.
Table NE-1
Projected Growth by Major Technology Application.
State Projected
Growth Next 12Months(percent)

Technology

U.S. Projected
Growth Next 12Months(percent)

Electric Power Generation
Electric Power Transmission, Distribution, andStorage
Energy Efficiency

5.9

4.8

1.0

3.5

3.2

3.0Fuels

5.3

1.7

Motor Vehicles

4.0

3.1

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U S E N E R G Y + E M P L O Y M E N T R E P O R T 2 0 2 0 | Nebraska
HIRING DIFFICULTY
Over the last year, 70.0 percent of energy-related employers in Nebraska
hired new employees. These employers reported the greatest overall
difficulty in hiring workers for jobs in Electric Power Generation.
Table NE-2
Hiring Difficulty by Major Technology Application.
Very Difficult(percent)

Technology

Somewhat
Difficult (percent)Not at All
Difficult(percent)

Electric Power Generation
Electric Power Transmission, Distribution, andStorage
Energy Efficiency

37.6

51.4

11.0

35.1

53.911.0

29.0

55.0

16.0

Fuels

25.7

45.9

28.4

Motor Vehicles

46.3

41.4

12.2

Employers in Nebraska gave the following as the top three reasons fortheir reported difficulty:
1. Lack of experience, training, or technical skills
2. Insufficient qualifications (certifications or education)
3. Insufficient non-technical skills (work ethic, dependability, criticalthinking)Employers reported the following as the three most difficult occupations
to hire for:1. Technician or mechanical support — $21.52 median hourly wage
2. Electrician/construction workers — $25.82 median hourly wage
3. IT/software or web developers — $38.76 median hourly wage

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