U.S. solar jobs growth in 2014 reflected a rapidly expanding clean-energy workforce. The Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census 2013 reported nearly 143,000 solar workers, up almost 20 percent from the prior survey period.
Solar Employment Grew Faster Than the National Average
National Solar Jobs Census 2013
TSF’s Census 2013 Finds U.S. Solar Jobs Grew 20% Since Last Year
On January 27th, 2014, The Solar Foundation released its highly anticipated National Solar Jobs Census 2013, which found that the U.S. solar industry employed 142,698 Americans as of November 2013. This figure includes the addition of 23,682 solar workers over the previous year, representing 19.9 percent growth in employment since September 2012. During the period covered by the Census, solar employment grew 10 times faster than the national average employment rate of 1.9 percent. This growth rate is also significant in that it shows – for the first time ever – the solar industry exceeded the growth projections made in the previous year’s report.
The Solar Foundation
Why Solar Job Growth Mattered
Installation growth was not only an energy story. It also created demand for electricians, sales teams, designers, project managers and manufacturing workers.
For more solar-market coverage, see our later Solar Foundation jobs coverage.
Conclusion
The 2013 census captured solar at a major growth point. Falling technology costs and rising deployment were beginning to translate into a much larger U.S. workforce.
Source: The Solar Foundation, National Solar Jobs Census 2013.
