The U.S. labor market is bracing for a decade of slower overall growth, but a handful of industries and occupations are set to expand at a breakneck pace, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
From 2025 to 2035, total employment will edge up by 5.9 million jobs to 176.2 million, representing growth of just 3.5%—a fraction of the 10.9% pace during the prior decade, BLS said in a report late last month.
As the AI boom continues to ripple through the economy, the utility industry is expected to hire at the fastest rate, growing employment by 9.8%. That’s as hyperscalers scramble to build data centers that require immense amounts of electricity.
“Nearly all the job growth is expected from electric power generation, transmission, and distribution due to increasing demand for electricity, including artificial intelligence power demands,” BLS said.
Within that category, certain sub-sectors will see even bigger employment gains, with solar electric power generation up 153% and wind electric power generation up 62%.
