As of recent data in 2025, the public utilities sector in the United States employs roughly between 544,000 and 675,000 people, depending on the source and exact definitions used. This sector includes jobs in electric power generation, transmission and distribution, natural gas distribution, water and sewage systems, and telecommunications
. More specifically:
- One source states about 558,000 employed in public utilities as of May 2020, covering electric power, natural gas, water, sewage, and telecommunications
- Another source estimates over 544,000 currently employed, with expectations for growth due to expanding cities and populations
- A third source cites approximately 675,775 employees nationwide as of October 2022
Employment in utilities tends to be stable with little month-to-month change; for example, in April 2025, utilities employment was about 596,000 with a slight decrease of 1,000 jobs that month
. In summary, there are approximately 550,000 to 675,000 jobs available in the public utilities industry across the U.S., spanning multiple essential service sectors.
