The number of jobs in Idaho’s core energy economy grew 4 percent between 2007 and 2010, and those jobs accounted for 7 percent of the 603,000 nonfarm jobs in Idaho.
Continued job growth is projected within the energy industry, according to a report released today by the Idaho Department of Labor – “Illuminating Idaho’s Energy Industry.”
Idaho’s concentration of energy jobs ranks 14th among the states, but these jobs are not evenly distributed. Eastern Idaho’s concentration is twice the statewide rate while the concentration in the remaining five regions is at or below the statewide average.
The Labor Department defined the industries that comprise core power generation and development and then compared the number of jobs and businesses along with wages in the core energy sector across all 50 states and within the six regions of Idaho.
The largest portion of Idaho’s energy jobs are in professional, technical and scientific services, which include high-paying jobs in engineering, laboratory testing and scientific research and development. Idahoans working in the energy industry make on average $25,000 more per year than the average wage earner in the state.
But the energy economy is creating jobs for people of all skill levels and educational backgrounds with annual incomes ranging from $26,000 to $83,000. Similar to the regional distribution of the jobs, the highest wages can be found in the eastern part of the state, where the Idaho National Laboratory is located.
Some heavy construction and research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences were identified as key industries where Idaho showed a competitive advantage. Other potential growth industries are also highlighted in the report.
Idaho’s potential competitive advantage is based on a cluster analysis that focuses on the advantage that industries gain through co-location. These advantages are present through the entire supply chain, which includes supporting industries and consists of innovative collaborations, entrepreneurial activity, increased research and development, economies of scale and a skilled workforce.
The full report is at http://labor.idaho.gov/publications/Energy_Report_f.pdf
--end--