Key Takeaways

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of electricians will increase 9% between 2020 and 2030, growing from 729,600 in 2020 to reach 795,700 by 2030. Between 2018 and 2028, the states with higher demand for electricians are California (10,230 openings), Texas (9,390 openings), New York (5,950 openings), Florida (5,730 openings), Ohio (3,500 openings), and Michigan (3,040 openings).
• The number of plumbers will increase by 5% between 2020 and 2030, growing from 469,900 in 2020 to reach 493,200 by 2030. Between 2018 and 2028, the states with higher demand for plumbers are California (6,910 openings), Texas (6,760 openings), New York (4,220 openings), Florida (3,930 openings), and Pennsylvania (2,080 openings).
• The states with the highest employment level for electricians are California (71,010), Texas (60,890), Florida (41,900), New York (36,310), and Ohio (23,430). Moreover, the states with the highest employment level for plumbers are California (43,540), Texas (39,810), New York (26,310), Florida (25,610), and Illinois (16,520).

Introduction

Electricians: Job Outlook

1- Job Demand Outlook & Electrician Shortage

• The BLS expects that the number of electricians will increase by 9% between 2020 and 2030, growing from 729,600 in 2020 to reach 795,700 by 2030. The average annual number of job openings for electricians will be 84,700 openings over the next decade. This number is the result of industry dynamics, with the growing need to replace exiting and retiring workers.
• CareerExplorer gives the electrician career path an A- employability rating, which highlights the great employment opportunities this career path offers in the near future. Over the next decade, the United States is expected to employ 67,000 electricians.
• The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) expects a shortage of electricians over the next few years, based on the difference between the number of workers exiting and entering the field. It is estimated that there are 7,000 electricians entering the field each year, while 10,000 electricians are retiring.
• According to DataUSA, the employment growth for electricians (8.41%) will outpace the national workforce employment growth (3.71%) between 2019 and 2029 (a 10-year period). The chart below outlines the projected 10-year growth in employment for electricians, along with the national workforce employment.

 

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2- Regions/States with Higher/Lower Demand

• The BLS allows users to find the projected employment growth for an occupation by state through its Projections Central. The database provides two types of projections: Long-Term Occupational Projections (2018-2028) and Short-Term Occupational Projections (2020-2022). We defined the states with higher demand as the states with higher average annual openings.
• Between 2020 and 2022, the states with higher demand for electricians are California (13,030 openings), Texas (6,670 openings), New York (8,780 openings), Florida (5,790 openings), and Ohio (3,990 openings). The states with lower demand for electricians are Guam (90 openings), Vermont (120 openings), District of Columbia (150 openings), Virgin Islands (160 openings), and Alaska (220 openings).
• Between 2018 and 2028, the states with higher demand for electricians are California (10,230 openings), Texas (9,390 openings), New York (5,950 openings), Florida (5,730 openings), Ohio (3,500 openings), and Michigan (3,040 openings). The states with lower demand for electricians are Louisiana (no openings), Guam (10 openings), Virgin Islands (20 openings), Mississippi (30 openings), and Idaho (80 openings).

3- Regions/States with the Highest Employment Level

• To find the states with the highest employment level, we used the "BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Query System," which is a search tool that allows users to create customized tables.
• The latest data from the BLS is from May 2020. The employment numbers by state were added to the attached spreadsheet, along with an explanation of how to use the BLS search tool.
• The states with the highest employment level for electricians are California (71,010), Texas (60,890), Florida (41,900), New York (36,310), and Ohio (23,430).

 

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• The states with the least employment level for electricians are Virgin Islands (300), Guam (410), Vermont (1,080), District of Columbia (1,270), and Alaska (1,500).

4- Workers Entering/Exiting the Market

• According to CareerExplorer, 59,600 electricians will enter the field in the next decade, while 7,400 existing electricians will retire. Thus, the United States will employ 67,000 electricians over the next decade.
• Each year, there are 7,000 electricians entering the field each year, while 10,000 electricians are exiting. This difference between the number of workers exiting and entering the field will lead to a shortage of electricians, according to the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

5- Electrician Services Market Outlook

• Electricians (businesses and individuals) will generate $202.3 billion in revenue in 2021, increasing by 3% from 2020. In 2020, the industry in the United States was valued at $196.5 billion, growing at an average yearly growth rate (CAGR) of 2% between 2016 and 2021.

 

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• About 223,659 businesses are operating within the US electrician services market, employing 1,067,069 workers. These workers include independent and self-employed electricians.

 

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• In 2019, the market size of electrician services was $179.8 billion. The chart below outlines a detailed analysis of the industry in 2019.

 

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6- Other Helpful Findings

• The unemployment rate among electricians in the United States is 2.6%.
• The top-paying US states for electricians are Illinois, New York, Hawaii, District of Columbia, and Oregon.
• The top-paying US industries for electricians are natural gas distribution, land subdivision, technical and trade schools, promoters of performing arts, and general merchandise stores.

Plumbers: Job Outlook

1- Job Demand Outlook

• The BLS expects that the number of plumbers will increase by 5% between 2020 and 2030, growing from 469,900 in 2020 to reach 493,200 by 2030. The average annual number of job openings for plumbers will be 51,000 openings over the next decade. This number is the result of industry dynamics, with the growing need to replace exiting and retiring workers. The BLS refers to plumbers as plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters.
• CareerExplorer gives the plumber career path a B employability rating, which highlights the good employment opportunities this career path offers in the near future. Over the next decade, the United States is expected to employ 81,900 plumbers.
• According to DataUSA, the employment growth for plumbers (4.26%) will outpace the national workforce employment growth (3.71%) between 2019 and 2029 (a 10-year period). The chart below outlines the projected 10-year growth in employment for plumbers, along with the national workforce employment.

 

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2- Regions/States with Higher/Lower Demand

• The BLS allows users to find the projected employment growth for an occupation by state through its Projections Central. The database provides two types of projections: Long-Term Occupational Projections (2018-2028) and Short-Term Occupational Projections (2020-2022). We defined the states with higher demand as the states with higher average annual openings.
• Between 2020 and 2022, the states with higher demand for plumbers are California (9,310 openings), New York (5,920 openings), Texas (4,560 openings), Florida (3,580 openings), and Pennsylvania (2,300 openings). The states with lower demand for plumbers are Virgin Islands (10 openings), Guam (40 openings), Vermont (90 openings), Wyoming (90 openings), and West Virginia (100 openings).
• Between 2018 and 2028, the states with higher demand for plumbers are California (6,910 openings), Texas (6,760 openings), New York (4,220 openings), Florida (3,930 openings), and Pennsylvania (2,080 openings). The states with lower demand for plumbers are Louisiana (no openings), Virgin Islands (10 openings), Guam (10 openings), Mississippi (20 openings), and Idaho (30 openings).

3- Regions/States with the Highest Employment Level

• To find the states with the highest employment level, we used the "BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Query System," which is a search tool that allows users to create customized tables.
• The latest data from the BLS is from May 2020. The employment numbers by state were added to the attached spreadsheet, along with an explanation of how to use the BLS search tool.
• The states with the highest employment level for plumbers are California (43,540), Texas (39,810), New York (26,310), Florida (25,610), and Illinois (16,520).

 

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• The states with the least employment level for plumbers are Virgin Islands (230), Guam (250), Puerto Rico (740), Wyoming (820), and Vermont (900).

4- Workers Entering/Exiting the Market

• According to CareerExplorer, 75,200 plumbers will enter the field in the next decade.
• About 6,700 existing plumbers will retire over the next ten years.
• Thus, the United States will employ 81,900 plumbers over the next decade.

5- Plumber Services Market Outlook

• Plumbers (businesses and individuals) will generate $124 billion in revenue in 2021, increasing by 3.7% from 2020. In 2020, the industry in the United States was valued at $119.6 billion, growing at an average yearly growth rate (CAGR) of 3% between 2016 and 2021.

 

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• About 127,343 businesses are operating within the US plumber services market, employing 565,537 workers. These workers include independent and self-employed plumbers.

 

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• In 2019, the market size of plumber services was $112.7 billion. The chart below outlines a detailed analysis of the industry in 2019.

 

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6- Other Helpful Findings

• The unemployment rate among plumbers in the United States is 3.2%.
• The top-paying US states for plumbers are Alaska, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Jersey.
• The top-paying US industries for plumbers are rail transportation, electric power (generation, transmission, and distribution), aerospace product and parts manufacturing, petroleum and coal products manufacturing, and educational support services.

Research Strategy