Perhaps no other sector of the economy could experience as much fundamental change over the next decade as the energy and utilities industry. Yet all talk of peak oil and biofuels aside, the U.S. Energy Department anticipates that oil, coal and natural gas will still account for 84% of the domestic energy market in 2030. Oil and gas jobs aren’t going away anytime soon.

Energy jobs are split into two general categories: electric power, and oil and gas. Recently passed federal legislation containing industry subsidies is likely to prompt an increase in power plant jobs related to nuclear and clean coal technologies. Research into alternative energy sources and mandatory increases in ethanol usage will also increase the number of power-related biotech jobs . But most employment growth in the energy sector will come from engineering, technical, mechanical and managerial oil jobs. Offshore drilling will be responsible for a growing percentage of U.S. oil production, and the need for both offshore and traditional extraction-related oilfield jobs such as drill operators and derrick operators will rise as the worldwide demand for oil and gas increases.