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 | Rhode Island

Rhode Island
ENERGY AND EMPLOYMENT — 2020Overview
Rhode Island has a low concentration of energy employment, with 5,685
Traditional Energy workers statewide (representing 0.2 percent of all U.S.
Traditional Energy jobs). Of these Traditional Energy workers, 2,495 are inElectric Power Generation, 1,079 are in Fuels, and 2,112 are in Transmission,Distribution, and Storage. The Traditional Energy sector in Rhode Island is
1.1 percent of total state employment (compared to 2.3 percent of national
employment). Rhode Island has an additional 13,028 jobs in Energy
Efficiency (0.5 percent of all U.S. Energy Efficiency jobs) and 5,118 jobs in
Motor Vehicles (0.2 percent of all U.S. Motor Vehicle jobs).
Figure RI-1.
Employment by Major Energy Technology Application
14,00012,773 13,028

12,00010,0008,000
6,000

4,937 5,118

4,000
2,398 2,495
2,000

1,009 1,079

1,792 2,112

Electric Power
GenerationFuels

Transmission, Energy Efficiency
Distribution, andStorage
2018

Motor Vehicles2019

Overall, Traditional Energy jobs grew by 9.4 percent since the 2019 report,increasing by 487 jobs over the period. Energy Efficiency jobs added 255
jobs (2.0 percent) and motor vehicles added 181 jobs (3.7 percent).

RI — 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 | Rhode Island

Breakdown by Technology Applications
ELECTRIC POWER GENERATIONElectric Power Generation employs 2,495 workers in Rhode Island, 0.3
percent of the national total and adding 97 jobs over the past year (4.1percent). Solar makes up the largest segment of employment related toElectric Power Generation, with 1,419 jobs (up 2.8 percent), followed bywind at 538 jobs (up 1.4 percent).
Figure RI-2.
Electric Power Generation Employment by Detailed Technology Application
1,419
Less than 50%
solar: 410

538

Majority of+me solar:
1,009

64

6129

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WindElectricG

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88

Professional and business services are the largest industry sector inElectric Power Generation, with 35.5 percent of jobs. Construction is next
with 18.5 percent.
Figure RI-3.
Electric Power Generation by Industry Sector
885

449

461

405

190
105

Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

RI — 2Trade

ProfessionalServices

Other Services

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 | Rhode Island
FUELS
Fuels employs 1,079 workers in Rhode Island, 0.1 percent of the national
total, up 6.9 percent over the past year. Petroleum and other fossil fuels
makes up the largest segment of employment related to Fuels.
Figure RI-4.
Fuels Employment by Detailed Technology Application
426

272

6255

25

6
Coal

Oil & OtherPetroleum

233

Natural Gas Corn Ethanol Other Ethanol/ Non-woody
Biomass

Woody
Biomass

Other Fuels

Wholesale trade jobs represent 64.6 percent of Fuels jobs in Rhode Island.
Figure RI-5.
Fuels Employment by Industry Sector

697

251
11111-

Agriculture and Mining &Forestry
Extraction

8Construction Manufacturing

RI — 3

Trade

Professional Other Services
Services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 | Rhode Island
TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND STORAGE
Transmission, Distribution, and Storage employs 2,112 workers in Rhode
Island, 0.2 percent of the national total, up 17.9 percent or 320 jobs sincethe 2018 report.
Figure RI-6.
Transmission, Distribution and Storage Employment by Detailed Technology
1,450468161
Traditional Transmissionand Distribution

33Storage

Smart Grid

Micro Grid & OtherUtilities are responsible for the largest percentage of Transmission,Distribution, and Storage jobs in Rhode Island, with 47.4 percent of suchjobs statewide.
Figure RI-7.
Transmission, Distribution and Storage Employment by Industry Sector
1,000

Prof
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srS

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10

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RI — 4131

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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 | Rhode Island
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The 13,028 Energy Efficiency jobs in Rhode Island represent 0.5 percent ofall U.S. Energy Efficiency jobs, adding 255 jobs (2.0 percent) since lastyear. The largest number of these employees work in (ENERGY STAR andefficient lighting firms, followed by advanced materials and insulation.
Figure RI-8.
Energy Efficiency Employment by Detailed Technology Application
3,763

3,526
2,640
1,651

1,448

Energy Star &Efficient Lighting

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

Other

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

7,622

2,466

2,007
691
Construction Manufacturing

242
Trade

Professional Other Services
Services

RI — 5

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 | Rhode Island
MOTOR VEHICLES
Motor Vehicle employment accounts for 5,118 jobs in Rhode Island, up 181
jobs over the past year (3.7 percent). The industry sector that accounts forthe largest fraction of Motor Vehicle jobs is repair and maintenance.
Figure RI-10.
Motor Vehicle Employment by Industry Sector
3,481

998295
Manufacturing

288
Trade56

Professional
Services

Repair andMaintenanceCommodity Flows

Workforce Characteristics
EMPLOYER GROWTH
Employers in Rhode Island are more optimistic to their peers across thecountry in regards to their job growth over the next year in Traditional
Energy (5.7 percent versus 3.2 percent nationally). Energy Efficiency
employers expect to add 656 jobs in Energy Efficiency (5.0 percent) andMotor Vehicles employers expect to add 213 jobs (4.2 percent) over the
next year.
Table RI-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

8.1

4.8

2.6

3.5

5.0

3.0

Fuels

6.2

1.7

Motor Vehicles

4.2

3.1

RI — 6

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 | Rhode IslandHIRING DIFFICULTY
Over the last year, 35.3 percent of energy-related employers in Rhode
Island hired new employees. These employers reported the greatest
overall difficulty in hiring workers for jobs in Electric Power Transmission,Distribution, and Storage.
Table RI-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

22.8

65.1

12.1

22.8

65.1

12.1

34.4

49.3

16.4

Fuels

27.7

45.9

26.4

Motor Vehicles

47.3

37.4

15.2

Employers in Rhode Island gave the following as the top three reasons fortheir reported difficulty:
1. Lack of experience, training, or technical skills
2. Competition/ small applicant pool
3. Insufficient non-technical skills (work ethic, dependability, criticalthinking)Employers reported the following as the three most difficult occupations
to hire for:1. Electrician/construction workers — $29.02 median hourly wage
2. Sales, marketing, or customer service — $37.81 median hourly wage
3. Technician or mechanical support — $23.84 median hourly wage

RI — 7