While energy knowledge has begun to recover following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, overall energy literacy levels remain below pre-pandemic benchmarks, and gaps persist across income, geography, and educational access, a recent report issued by the National Energy Foundation said.
“For the energy industry, improving energy literacy is not only an educational priority, it is also a strategic opportunity to strengthen public understanding while building awareness of future energy careers,” NEF said in the executive summary for the report.
The 2025 National Energy Literacy Survey, conducted among high school seniors and recent graduates, provides the most comprehensive national benchmark of energy knowledge among youth to date, NEF noted.
Building on surveys conducted in 2017 and 2022, the survey offers a longitudinal view of how energy literacy is evolving.
NEF listed the following as key findings:
- Energy Literacy is Recovering Since the Pandemic: The NEF 2025 National Energy Literacy Survey shows that energy literacy declined during the pandemic but is beginning to recover. The current national score is 46 out of 100, reflecting improvement but still below pre-pandemic levels.
- Overall Energy Literacy is Low in the U.S.: The average score is 46 out of 100, meaning students correctly answered fewer than half of the survey’s energy knowledge questions. These include questions on foundational topics such as sources and uses, highlighting significant gaps in energy understanding.
- Recovery is Uneven: Energy literacy varies significantly across student populations. Students from lower-income households consistently score lower and have experienced slower recovery since the pandemic. Differences also appear across parental education levels, geographic regions, and gender. Closing these disparities will require stronger collaboration between educators, communities, and industry partners.
- Students are Engaged in Energy, but Often Lack Depth of Understanding: NEF’s 2025 Survey identified four student engagement profiles. Nearly half of students fall into the “Big Talker” or “Indifferent Onlooker” categories, meaning many express opinions about energy but lack the knowledge or motivation to engage meaningfully. Only 24% of students are engaged and knowledgeable about energy. This gap between confidence and competence underscores the need for stronger education, experiential learning, and real-world connections to energy systems.
“The U.S. energy system is undergoing rapid transformation. Electrification, artificial intelligence, energy grid modernization, data infrastructure, and evolving energy technologies are reshaping workforce needs across engineering, operations, technology, policy, and skilled trades,” NEF said.
NEF said its 2025 survey shows that students lack awareness of energy career pathways.
“Improving energy literacy during high school and elementary school can convert curiosity into career exploration and a new workforce. For the energy sector, the awareness gap represents a pivotal opportunity to connect energy education with future workforce needs,” it said.
NEF lists the following opportunities for energy industry action to improve energy literacy:
• Expand Industry and Education Partnerships
• Increase Early Exposure to Energy Careers
• Connect Energy Learning to Emerging Technologies
• Support Equitable Access to Energy Education
• Inspire the Next Generation of Energy Leaders
