July 26, 2022
Solar energy jobs had been up in 47 states and elevated 9 p.c nationwide from 2020 to 2021 to a complete of 255,037 solar employees. These findings are within the annual National Solar Jobs Census launched by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), an unbiased nationwide nonprofit group.
This job development happened in a yr of document solar installations pushed by elevated demand for renewable energy amongst residential clients, municipalities, companies, and electrical utilities. Overall, the solar trade added 21,563 jobs in 2021, with greater than two-thirds of those new jobs (14,350) at set up and undertaking improvement corporations.
“America’s solar industry came back strong from the pandemic to expand the clean energy workforce across all regions of the country,” mentioned Larry Sherwood, President and CEO at IREC. “The future remains uncertain in light of the supply chain disruptions, trade issues, and stalled federal policy in the first part of 2022. There is potential for unprecedented job growth in the coming years if federal, state, and local leaders take action to expand clean energy use and address climate change.”
The full report and associated knowledge will be downloaded at right here.
Over the previous decade, U.S. solar employment has greater than doubled from 105,145 jobs in 2011 to 255,037 jobs in 2021. The most vital development has taken place within the set up and undertaking improvement sector, the place employment greater than tripled since 2011 to achieve 168,960 jobs in 2021.
At the state stage …
- California (75,712 jobs)
- Florida (11,761 jobs),
- Massachusetts (10,548 jobs),
- New York (10,524 jobs), and
- Texas (10,346 jobs).
These are adopted by Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and Ohio, every with 7,000 to 9,000 jobs.
California additionally led for the variety of jobs added in 2021 (7,035 new jobs), adopted by Massachusetts (+1,053 jobs), Nevada (+1,019 jobs), and Arizona (+932 jobs). Other sturdy development states had been Ohio, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Georgia, every with 800–900 new jobs. See a whole desk of solar jobs by state and job development from 2020 right here.
“Solar energy is an economic growth engine, creating new jobs while it helps us confront the climate crisis,” mentioned Dan Reicher, Senior Scholar, Stanford Woods Institute and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy. “There is vast and untapped potential to expand solar installations and related jobs across the United States, in an environmentally sustainable manner, as we help businesses and families access this renewable energy source.”
The solar trade nonetheless has extra work to do to fulfill its objectives for variety, fairness, and inclusion and prolong the advantages of the clear energy financial system to underrepresented teams.
The report discovered that girls made up slightly below 30 p.c of the solar workforce in 2021, whereas Black workers made up 8 p.c of the workforce, Latino or Hispanic employees made up 20 p.c, and Asian employees made up 9 p.c. Fewer than one-third of solar corporations reported methods to extend feminine, ethnic or racial minority, or LGBTQ+ hires.
The solar trade does supply a path to a profession for these with no two- or four-year school diploma. Less than one-third of entry-level solar jobs (31 p.c) require a bachelor’s diploma, whereas 65 p.c of corporations present on-the-job coaching. In a yr with a decent labor market, 89 p.c of corporations reported problem discovering certified candidates, together with 35 p.c that mentioned it was “very difficult.”
This report analyzes knowledge from the U.S. Department of Energy’s U.S. Energy and Employment Report 2022 and a supplemental followup survey of solar institutions. Both surveys had been administered by BW Research Partnership. The National Solar Jobs Census defines a solar worker as somebody who spends 50 p.c or extra of their time on solar-related work. The National Solar Jobs Census was first revealed in 2010 by The Solar Foundation, which merged with IREC in 2021.
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Tags: Interstate Renewable Energy Council, market analysis
