The U.S. corn ethanol industry continues to stand out for employing military veterans and maintaining a diverse workforce, according to the 2025 U.S. Energy & Employment Report recently released by the U.S. Department of Energy. Veterans comprise 16 percent of the ethanol workforce—one out of every six employees. That share is higher than any other segment of the U.S. energy sector, 60 percent above the petroleum industry, and more than three times the national workforce average.

“It’s no surprise that so many military veterans have found a home in the ethanol industry. It’s a natural fit for workers who are mission-driven, innovative, and dedicated to strengthening America’s energy security,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper, an Army veteran. “Through our Veterans for Renewable Fuels initiative, RFA recognizes the vital contributions of our large veteran workforce, and we are proud to employ so many former military service members.”

Cooper also noted that the Department of Defense recently recognized RFA and its members with the prestigious Patriotic Employer designation, underscoring the association’s ongoing commitment to supporting those who served and continue to serve.

Beyond veteran employment, DOE data show the ethanol industry outpaces its energy peers in other key categories:

  • Women account for nearly one-third of the ethanol workforce, compared to 24 percent in petroleum fuels and 26 percent across the energy sector
  • Nearly a quarter of employees are age 55 or older, versus 18 percent in petroleum fuels and 19 percent across the energy sector
  • Workers with disabilities represent 4 percent of the ethanol workforce—four times the share in petroleum fuels and double the overall energy sector

Union membership also remains solid, with 6 percent of ethanol workers covered by a collective bargaining agreement, closely tracking both petroleum fuels and the national workforce.

Notably, the annual DOE report measures only direct employment within the energy sector and does not include indirect and induced jobs supported by ethanol supply chains or farming. For ethanol, that distinction is especially important: more than two-thirds of the industry’s broader economic impact is tied to agriculture, with benefits most pronounced in rural America. For a comprehensive look at the American ethanol industry’s impact on employment and the U.S. economy, check out RFA’s annual economic impact study.

Source: Renewable Fuels Association Press Release, Sep 5, 2025