October 2025 APCA MARKET PENETRATION RESEARCH www.ContinuumCapital.net Market Size by Workforce Summary Findings & Observations Phase 1 – 2000 to 2007 defined by housing boom, limited growth in transmission, hazardous liquid, and gathering line miles; merit shop workforce already large and distribution focused while union workforce it starting to ramp up to 2008 peak. Phase 2 – 2008 to 2019 defined by financial crisis and fracking transformation driving the markets to 4 peaks in activity. The union workforce captured the majority of the first peak and the merit shop workforce captured more of the subsequent peaks. Phase 3 – 2020 to Present defined by COVID19 and precipitous drop in mileage activity. The merit shop workforce was able to maintain workforce more effectively than unions during this era. The union workforce was retained longer during the 2008/2009 financial crisis than the merit shop workforce. Post 2010, the merit workforce has lost less trades, percentage wise, versus the union workforce, in each downturn and has continued to grow in the face of shrinking pipeline mileage since 2019. Between 2000 and 2023, state workforce growth, in percentage terms, is concentrated in northern plains, mountain west, Texas, and south where flexible energy policy typically exists. The union workforce peaked at 26,000 in 2017 when it accounted for 49% of the total workforce; troughed at 4,300 in 2004 when it accounted for 9% of the workforce; exhibited a median workforce of 14,000. The merit workforce peaked at 51,000 in 2006 when it accounted for 87% of the total workforce; troughed at 15,000 in 2010 when it accounted for 51% of the workforce; exhibit a median workforce of 35,000. 33
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