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Page 8 The Skanner May 23, 2018 CAREERS By Freddie Allen Editor-in-Chief, NNPA Newswire and Black- PressUSA.com nergy jobs are grow- ing faster than the national average and energy-related sectors are less diverse than the national work- force, according to the 2018 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER). “The nation’s energy sector employed 6.5 mil- lion Americans in 2017, up 133,000 jobs from the year prior,” a press re- lease about the report noted. “This two percent growth rate exceeded the national average of 1.7 percent. Jobs in the en- ergy sectors accounted for nearly 7 percent of all new jobs nationwide in 2017.” National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and the Ener- gy Futures Initiative (EFI) released the report last week. NASEO is the only national non-profit association for the gov- ernor-designated energy officials from each of the E 56 states and territories, according to the group’s website. EFI provides policymakers, industry leaders, NGOs with data driven, unbiased policy recommendations, “to advance a cleaner, saf- er, more affordable and more secure energy fu- ture.” The report said that the companies surveyed an- ticipate roughly 6.2 per- cent employment growth for 2018. Despite the positive growth trends, ethnic and racial minorities ac- count for a smaller share of the workforce in the energy-related sectors than their correspond- ing national averages, the report said. Hispanic or Latino workers ac- count for 10-19 percent of the labor force in ener- gy-related sectors, com- pared to 17 percent in the overall economy. Black workers hold 5-9 percent of the jobs in energy-re- lated sectors and account for 12 percent of the na- tional workforce. The USEER examines four sectors of the en- ergy economy: Electric PHOTO: PEXELS.COM New U.S. Energy and Jobs Report Shows Growth, Less Diverse Workforce According to the 2018 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER), Black workers hold 5-9 percent of the jobs in energy-related sectors, a rate that is much lower than the 12 percent share of the national workforce held by Black workers. Power Generation and Fuels; Transmission, Dis- tribution, and Storage; Energy Efficiency; and Motor Vehicles. Blacks account for 9 percent of the electric power generation work- force (76,985) compared to White workers who hold 70 percent of the electric power genera- tion jobs (615,696). Blacks workers ac- count for 5 percent of the Fuels workforce (53,488) and Whites account for 84 percent of the Fuels workforce (903,045). African Americans ac- count for 8 percent of the energy efficiency work- force (176,303) compared to White workers that hold 78 percent of the jobs in that sector. Blacks hold 180,031 of the jobs in the Motor Vehicles sector account- ing for 8 percent of the workforce compared to White workers who hold 1,832,239 of the jobs and 78 percent of the Motor Vehicles workforce. “The USEER has proven to be an important tool for state energy officials, who will use this unique set of ‘all of the above’ en- ergy jobs data to inform policy development and planning,” said David Terry, the executive di- rector of the National As- sociation of State Energy Officials (NASEO), in a press release about the report. During a presentation about the report on Cap- itol Hill, Ernest J. Moniz, the former Energy Sec- retary under President Barack Obama, called the report a foundation for state governments, non-profit organizations and businesses to ana- lyze the data and develop policy proposals. Moniz, who is also the president and CEO of EFI, noted that although many industry lead- ers expressed concerns about hiring challeng- es in a very tight labor market, there were still opportunities to recruit and train people to fill jobs. The former energy secretary added that ap- prentice programs pros- per when there are part- nerships between state agencies and labor union groups; pre-apprentice- ship programs can also aid in addressing some of the diversity issues found in the energy in- dustry today. “The competitiveness of this sector is import- ant,” Moniz said. “We know that the definition of full employment does not mean that there ar- en’t people who are avail- able, with appropriate training, to come in to the jobs.” Career News Briefs Oregon Sheds Jobs in April; Unemployment Rate Holds Steady PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon dropped nearly 3,000 jobs in April, its first loss in more than a year. Despite the decline, the state Em- ployment Department said Tuesday that Oregon’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.1 percent. It’s been at or near 4 percent for 16 months. State economists say the retail in- dustry declined by 2,500 jobs in April after adding about that many workers a month earlier. Health care and social assistance also cut more than 1,000 jobs in April. Construction and the hospitality in- dustry were bright spots, each adding at least 500 positions. Another unemployment measure, known as U-6, was at 8.3 percent in April, slightly below the 8.5 percent recorded in April 2017. The figure includes discouraged workers who stopped looking and part-time workers who want but can’t get full-time jobs. Group Launches Bid to Repeal Seattle’s New Tax on Companies SEATTLE (AP) — A coalition of busi- nesses in Seattle has started a cam- paign to repeal the city’s new tax on large businesses to help fund homeless services and affordable housing. Multiple news outlets reported that the group calling itself No Tax on Jobs began collecting signatures Friday to qualify for a citizen referendum. Their goal is to get about 18,000 sig- natures by mid-June in order to get the question on the November ballot. It otherwise takes effect on Jan. 1, 2019. The group is chaired by James Maioc- co, chief business development officer with Redmond-based tech firm Push- pay, according to a filing Friday with the Seattle Ethics and Elections Com- mission. On Monday, the Seattle City Council unanimously approved a yearly tax of $275 per full-time employee to be lev- ied on businesses with at least $20 mil- lion annually in Seattle revenue, begin- ning next year. Upcoming Job Fairs May 30 and June 4, 11, 18 and 25: WorkSource Gresham, 19421 SE Stark St., will host hiring events for FedEx Ground on these dates taking place from 1 to 3 p.m. May 30 and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the other dates. Wag- es are $13.10 to $14.10 per hour with medical, dental, vision, vacation and education reimbursements. Package handlers at FedEx Ground are also eli- gible for vacation and holiday pay after completion of an eligibility period, and are eligible for pay increases within the first six months of employment as well as career advancement opportunities. Applicants must be 18 years of age. See BRIEFS on page 9
