Job market information
Finding out about power
The power industry is part of the energy and utility sector, represented by Energy and Utility Sector Skills Council, which also includes: gas; waste management; and water. The UK energy and utility sector employs an estimated 536,200 people.
The power industry covers the activities associated with the production, transmission and distribution of electricity. The industry starts at the point of production and ends at (and including) the meter on the customers’ property. The means of production and the fuel used to generate electricity can vary whether generated by conventional methods (e.g. gas‐fired power stations) or by renewable resources (e.g. wind or wave power). Activities of the industry can be divided into:
- Production of electricity – operation of generation facilities that produce electricity from gas, coal‐fired and hydroelectric power stations and various renewable sources
- Transmission of electricity – operation of high voltage transmission networks that convey electricity from the generation facility to the distribution networks. This is primarily the operation and maintenance of the national grid network.
- Distribution and trade of electricity – operation of regional distribution networks that convey electricity from the high voltage transmission network to the consumer, plus the retail sale (or supply) of electricity to the customer.
Key facts:
- There are 87,000 people employed in the industry, which includes:
- 18,000 working in generation
- 38,000 working in distribution and transmission
- 21,500 working in supply
- 6,500 working in corporate functions
- an estimated 3,000 people who are self‐employed and working in the industry.
- There is a strong gender bias, with only 16% of the workforce female. There are high concentrations of female workers in administrative and secretarial, sales and customer service roles.
- The age profile is similar to that of the whole UK workforce, although it does employ slightly fewer 16‐24 year olds and more 25‐54 year olds.
- Around 2,000 new workers per year will be required by the electricity industry between 2008 and 2017.
Jobs in the industry range from:
- Generation – control and instrumentation engineer, operations technician, maintenance technician, electrical engineer, supervisor
- Transmission and Distribution – overhead line worker, cable jointer, electrical fitter, electrical engineer, supervisor
- Supply Sector – meter operative, meter technician, supervisor.
Entry and progression
It is recommended that entrants apply directly to an employer to secure employment or work experience. This can be supplemented with training such as an S/NVQ or college based qualifications that could lead to a nationally recognised qualification. There are a range of industry endorsed courses and foundation degrees, vocational qualifications, apprenticeships and training schemes available to those wishing to enter the industry. In general, the industry prefers to recruit a more experienced and mature individuals into, what can be dangerous roles and situations.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
87,000, including 3,000 who are self‐employed |
|---|
| Gender: |
gender ratio of the workforce is not available |
|---|
| around 20% of managerial employees are female, compared to around 34% across the UK |
| 67% of those in administrative and secretarial occupations are female |
| only 12% of professionals and 27% of associate professionals are female |
| within electricity generation companies, 10% of the workforce are female |
| Age: |
Those under 18 year olds are not allowed to work on generation, transmission and distribution systems. |
|---|
A small proportion of the energy and utilities sector workforce report having a disability.
An estimated 93‐96% of the energy and utilities sector workforce is white.
[N.B. Data derived from Energy & Utility Skills Labour Market Investigation of the UK Electricity Industry, 2004 and Census of Population, 2001.]
Employment trends and future prospects
Over the next decade, the total number of people employed in the industry is forecast to remain fairly stable. With a number of power stations (fuelled by gas, coal and nuclear) coming towards the end of their operational lives, new facilitates will be built to replace them. There is a future need to increase the amount of electricity generated to meet the future demands of the UK, so the employment prospects within the industry are positive.
As well as extensive investment in power stations, new workers will need to be recruited to replace and upgrade the overhead lines transmission and distribution networks. This is a key element of the future success of the electricity industry, especially as a growing number of renewable energy plants will need to be connected to these networks – many of them in remote locations or off‐shore.
Around 2,000 new workers per year will be required by the electricity industry between 2008 and 2017, with 34% of these needing to be graduates.
Skill requirements and shortages
The main skill shortages that exist in the electricity industry are: cable jointers/overhead linespersons; control and instrumentation engineers; design engineers; electrical engineers; civil engineers; mechanical engineers; and project managers/engineers.
Due to the lack of graduates and other suitably skilled people looking for employment in the industry, it is unlikely that these skills shortages will be resolved. The shortage of cable jointers and overhead linespersons is particularly severe due to the age profile of the existing workforce and the major renewal programme of the electricity transmission and distribution network.
Occupational trends
The occupations where demand for new recruits will be largest include: unit operator/controller; cable jointers; electrical fitters; overhead linesperson; resource team leaders; project manager/engineer; and meter fixers.
There is evidence to suggest that individuals will need to be recruited to some of the higher‐level technical and engineering occupations, as a high number of workers are due to retire within the next 10 to 15 years. It is believed that replacements may be difficult to find in sufficient numbers.
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are around 3,500 people employed within the industry in the region in approximately 50 companies; which makes this region the smallest in England.
East of England – There are around 5,500 people employed within the industry in the region in approximately 80 companies.
London – There are around 4,000 people employed within the industry in the London region in approximately 100 companies.
North East – There are around 6,000 people employed within the industry in the North East region in a very small number of companies.
North West – There are around 5,000 people employed within the industry in the region in approximately 90 companies.
South East – There are around 7,500 people employed within the industry in the region in approximately 120 companies.
South West – There are around 7,000 people employed within the industry in the region in approximately 90 companies.
West Midlands – There are around 11,500 people employed within the industry in the region in approximately 75 companies; which makes it the largest in England in terms of the number of people employed in the electricity industry.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are around 6,000 people employed within in approximately 70 companies.
Salary levels
Average basic salaries (excluding overtime and bonuses) for a selection of occupations found in the electricity industry include:
- Electrical Engineer £42,000
- Civil Engineer £38,000
- Design Engineer £37,000
- Mechanical Engineer £35,000
- Overhead Linesworker £33,000
- Electrical/Engineering Technician £30,000
- Cable Jointer £24,000
- Meter Fixer £21,000
Starting salaries for young people and graduates entering the electricity industry range from £16,000 to £25,000. Upon completion of training these salaries can increase to between £26,000 and £40,000, depending upon the occupation.
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using EU Skills AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
