U.S. coal production rose in the second quarter compared to a year earlier, according to S&P Global market data. A sustained rise in demand for coal used in power generation also allowed companies to hire more workers.

On a year-over-year basis, average employment rose 11.3% in the second quarter, and coal volumes improved about 2%, according to the S&P Global data. The average number of employees in the U.S. coal sector has gradually increased over the last year. Second-quarter employment rose 1.5% compared to the previous quarter, even though coal production volumes fell by 2.5%.

Coal exports from the U.S. increased in the second quarter as demand and prices remained at high levels amid a global energy crisis, further supporting production increases, according to the report.

Other insights from S&P Global’s market data:

• In Q2, total output from the Powder River Basin declined 2.3% year over year, with production declining 6.8% quarterly. However, employment is trending upward, with a 1.9% increase quarterly and 15.8% yearly to 5,043 employees.
• Total production from Northern Appalachia coal operations dropped 3.7% yearly and 2.3% quarterly, but employment during the three months ended June 30 increased 6.5% year over year and 2.4% quarter over quarter.
• In Central Appalachia, coal production increased 7.1% year over year, a quarterly rise of 3.1%. Employment increased 1.5% from the first quarter and a 17.6% rise from the year-ago quarter figure.

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