Job and energy preferences of steelworkers and impacts for industrial electrification

Abstract Electrification, especially when paired with low-carbon electricity resources, is one pathway for reducing emissions from the industrial sector, but it will also require changes to manufacturing processes and jobs of workers in the industry. The steel industry is both one of the most emitting industrial sectors, and a sector that has already adopted some electrified technology for steel recycling. To learn more about what job attributes workers value most and thus are most important to preserve in a just electrification transition, we conducted a series of semi-structured interviews followed by a short survey with workers employed in the steel industry. We find that most workers have rotating schedules of day and night shifts, most with a few overtime hours built into the schedule. Workers cite pay and other rewards, as well as the intrinsic characteristics of their work as positive attributes, although they are less satisfied with work-life balance and health and safety in their jobs. When it comes to sources of energy, solar energy is viewed most positively, while coal and wind are viewed most negatively, which is consistent with broader community energy preferences. Workers also note weather is already influencing production schedules through participation in electricity demand response programs and restrictions on the use of cooling water from nearby natural resources. Plans for further electrification of the steel industry and adoption of intermittent renewables should consider how the resulting production patterns will affect the ability to recruit and retain workers.