The Alabama Department of Workforce Is Creating New Employment in Propane

Alabama’s growing demand for energy is creating new opportunities for workforce development in the butane and propane industries, where skilled technicians, drivers and safety professionals are increasingly vital to keeping homes, farms and businesses running efficiently. 

This industry is one of the leaders in the state, with wage growth of more than 57% over 14 years. Average annual wages in the utilities sector increased by 57.9%, from $70,359 in 2010 to $111,114 in 2024. This represents one of the largest industry wage increases in the state. Areas that have seen the most growth in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector include the Gulf Coast, where Baldwin County and Monroe County saw wage growth of 118% and 119% respectively, and the Black Belt, where Macon County and Russell County experienced growth of 177.9% and 175.7%. 

Additionally, this industry has experienced growth in the number of people employed in these occupations, increasing by 5.78% since 2015. 

Energy production remains one of the nation’s — and Alabama’s — most important economic topics. As the state works to support and grow all industries, the Alabama Department of Workforce (ADOW) continues analyzing data from its Labor Market Information Division while working closely with business and industry partners to provide assistance where it is needed most. For example, more than half of all workers in Alabama’s energy sector were age 45 or older as of 2024. This signals a need to focus attention on informing, training and motivating the next generation of workers to enter the field. 

Meeting this challenge requires collaboration. ADOW works with the business community to identify workforce strengths and gaps while partnering with the education community to ensure training aligns with real workforce needs. Recent legislation requiring increased emphasis on career and technical education in K-12 schools presents an important opportunity to work with state and local education leaders to prepare students for careers in industries like energy. By aligning education with industry needs, Alabama can ensure employers have access to skilled workers while giving students clear pathways to stable, high-wage careers. 

Through Alabama’s Career Centers, ADOW provides a range of services to support employers and job seekers alike. These include on-site job fairs, employee screening and free job postings to help companies recruit talent. Employers may also receive wage assistance through programs such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which can reimburse up to 50% of worker wages during training periods. This allows employers to train employees to their standards while benefiting from significant financial support. WIOA also funds on-the-job training and work- based learning opportunities for younger workers. 

Additional incentives include the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and federal bonding programs that support employers who hire individuals who have historically faced barriers to employment, including veterans, individuals with disabilities and justice-impacted workers. 

The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship, through the ADOW, provides apprenticeship opportunities for all occupations, and can assist employers and job seekers in obtaining the training they need for the occupation they want. These apprenticeships support the growing energy and utilities sector by helping employers develop skilled workers for occupations such as electricians, line workers and other technical roles critical to modern energy infrastructure. Through the registered apprenticeship model, participants gain paid, hands-on training alongside classroom instruction, preparing them for careers in high-demand energy fields while earning industry- recognized credentials. 

The Alabama STEM Council is working with educators statewide and providing training for teachers in STEM-related fields (science, technology, engineering and math) and encourages the training, hiring and recruitment of workers in these areas. Through programs such as STEM teacher externships with industry partners, educators gain firsthand exposure to real-world STEM applications and bring that experience back into the classroom, helping students better understand career opportunities in fields like advanced manufacturing, engineering and energy technology. These efforts strengthen Alabama’s talent pipeline and prepare students for careers that support the state’s evolving energy economy. 

Currently, the Alabama Department of Workforce is assisting more than a dozen energy companies with recruitment efforts and has resumes available for positions such as petroleum engineers, pumping operators, propane sales professionals, commercial driver’s license (CDL) truck drivers and other technical and sales roles. In addition, approved training providers across the state offer a wide range of programs designed to prepare workers for careers in the energy sector. 

Career fields such as HVAC and CDL driving are also analogous to the utilities industry. It’s important to look to other fields to identify cross-training opportunities that may allow workers who are looking for a change or those who may want to learn a new trade to participate in a whole new field, which could increase their earnings, improve their quality of life and help influence industry growth. Both HVAC and CDL drivers are high-demand occupations in the state and also have some of the highest wages. 

As Alabama continues to grow its energy economy, strong partnerships between industry, education and workforce agencies will be essential to building the skilled workforce needed to power the state’s future.