Energy Central's 2026 Workforce Survey

Survey Time: 3 minutes

Thank you for participating in Energy Central's inaugural workforce survey. This (quick!) survey is designed to help us all better understand the workforce challenges and opportunities our industry is facing—so we can make more informed decisions as we build toward the future. It should only take a few moments. We're grateful for your contribution to our community.

The Basics

What’s your name? (Don’t worry, we’ll keep these survey responses anonymous unless you opt in to telling us more.)

What’s your email address?

What company do you work for?

What’s your career level?

General Sentiment

Which word best describes how you’re feeling about the energy workforce in the coming years?

Compared to this time last year, how would you characterize your org’s hiring strategy?

We’re doing more hiring than we were this time last year.

We’re doing less hiring than we were this time last year.

We’re feeling roughly the same about hiring as we were this time last year.

What’s your primary concern when it comes to a shifting energy workforce?

Aging working population/retirements

AI and next-gen tech

Adapting to new industry norms like electrification and clean tech

Training and retention challenges

Something else (feel free to tell us more)

The Changes Ahead

According to the Department of Labor, nearly half of the current workforce in the energy sector will retire within the next decade. Does this keep you up at night?

Yes

What major energy industry trend do you think is most impacting the energy workforce today?

Do you feel your organization is prepared for the changes the proliferation of AI might bring?

Yes

As your workforce changes, how concerned are you about losing the data quality and institutional knowledge that underpins good infrastructure investment decisions?

It's one of my top worries

I'm a little concerned

I'm not very concerned—we have systems in place

I'm not concerned at all

Which skills do you think are most needed from the next-gen workforce? Feel free to choose multiple.

Which qualities are you looking for in new hires? Feel free to choose multiple.

Which industry do you see as the biggest source of competition for new hires in the energy space?

In general: Do you think the industry is prepared to attract, train, and develop the next-gen workforce?

Yes

I’m not sure yet

Are there any utilities you think are really nailing hiring these days? Who’s inspiring you with their workforce efforts?

One Last Thing...

Are you interested in chatting with our team for 5 minutes to tell us more about your responses today? You would in turn be featured in Energy Central’s 2026 Workforce Report—either anonymously or not, up to you.

Yes

Thank you for telling us what you think! See you in your inbox.