WASHINGTON, June 28 Reuters Jobs in the U.S. energy business rose 4 last year, at a faster clip than the country39;s overall private sector, led by work in lowcarbon vehicles, while positions in fossil fuels fell as the pandemic cut demand, the Department of Energy said on Tuesday.

The U.S. Energy and Employment Report showed employment in manufacturing of cleaner vehicles and components whether hybrid electric, full battery electric, plugin hybrid, or hydrogen fuel cell rose about 64,500 or about 25 from last year. Overall jobs in motor vehicles rose 228,100, up 9.8, it said.

Meanwhile, employment in petroleum fuels fell about 31,600, or 6.4, from last year as the COVID19 pandemic reduced demand.

The report covered the job picture before Russia39;s Feb. 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine and rising fuel demand spurred gasoline prices to record levels and pushed the administration of President Joe Biden to plead with oil companies to boost oil drilling and refinery output.

It was also before the implementation of billions of dollars in subsidies and investments in last year39;s infrastructure law for energy efficiency, nuclear power, and the building of hubs for hydrogen, a gas that can be mixed with natural gas or used in fuel cell vehicles.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told reporters the report showed good news to build on to reach Biden39;s clean energy goals, including decarbonizing the economy by 2050, even though the window is narrowing for Congress to pass…