Solar Employs More Than 250,000 Americans, Jobs Nearly Triple Since 2010
U.S. solar industry employment declined in 2017, while jobs increased in numerous states with emerging solar markets, according to the National Solar Jobs Census 2017 the eighth annual report on solar employment released today by The Solar Foundation.
Solar Jobs Census found that 250,271 Americans work in solar as of 2017. Thereby representing a 3.8 percent decline, or about 9,800 fewer jobs, since 2016. This is the first year that jobs have decreased since the Solar Jobs Census was first released in 2010.
However, the long-term trend continues to show significant jobs growth. The solar workforce increased by 168 percent in the past seven years, from about 93,000 jobs in 2010 to over 250,000 jobs in 2017.
Additionally, solar jobs increased in 29 states and the District of Columbia in 2017. That’s including in many states with emerging solar markets. States with significant job gains include Utah, Minnesota, Arizona, Colorado and Pennsylvania. Finally New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee.
However, California remains the state with the largest number of solar jobs nationwide. Although jobs in California decreased 14 percent in 2017.
Then In Massachusetts, the state with the second largest solar workforce, employment decreased by 21 percent. A complete table of solar jobs by state, along with the full report and other background information, is available at SolarJobsCensus.org.
“After six years of rapid and steady growth, the solar industry faced headwinds that led to a dip in employment in 2017, including a slowdown in the pace of new solar installations,” said Andrea Luecke, President and Executive Director at The Solar Foundation. “Uncertainty over the outcome of the trade case also had a likely impact on solar jobs growth. At the same time, the fact that jobs went up in 29 states is an encouraging sign that solar is taking hold across the country as a low-cost, sustainable, and reliable energy source.”
Solar Jobs Census
The Solar Foundation is a nonprofit educational and research organization. It issues the National Solar Jobs Census each year. Each year to provide comprehensive and reliable data. Data therefore on the U.S. solar workforce. This year’s Census is based on a rigorous survey of solar establishments.
All conducted between October and November 2017. So the Census defines a solar employee as someone who spends at least 50 percent of his or her time on solar-related work.
Other key findings from the National Solar Jobs Census 2017 include:
Demand-side sectors (installation, sales & distribution, and project development) make up almost 78 percent of overall solar industry employment. All the while manufacturing makes up 15 percent. Demand-side sectors lost approximately 7,500 jobs in 2017. More interestingly while manufacturing lost about 1,200 jobs.
Diversity and Total Numbers
So the solar jobs census report shows an industry that is more diverse than comparable industries. However more needs to be done. More to ensure it is representative of the greater U.S. population. Women made up 27 percent of the solar workforce in 2017. That’s down 1 percent from 2016. As well as Veterans made up 9 percent of solar workers; 2 percent more than the overall U.S. workforce.
Solar employs twice as many workers as the coal industry! It is almost five times as many as nuclear power. Finally, nearly as many workers as the natural gas industry.
(These comparisons with other industries are based on 2016 solar jobs census numbers, the most recent data available for an apples-to-apples comparison.)
Finally, the complete National Solar Jobs Census can be found at SolarJobsCensus.org.
“Minnesota has led the nation in the development of renewable energy,” said Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton. “Thanks to Minnesota’s strong commitment to clean energy, our solar workforce grew by 48 percent last year. We will continue doing everything we can to protect our environment and our health, while building an even stronger clean energy economy in Minnesota.”
“Utah is blessed with abundant and diverse energy resources—including excellent solar potential,” said Utah Governor Gary Herbert. “Solar deployment complements Utah’s ongoing commitment to delivering clean, innovative, sustainable energy development across its many resources and providing economic opportunities and jobs across the state.”
“Solar power enhances environmental protection and health and helps accelerate economic growth,” said Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. “Colorado is a great home for the solar industry and we value those companies that find our state a good place for business. We have to give credit to the innovative plans that have captured the interest of the solar industry, making Colorado one of the top states in solar deployment.”
“Under Governor Cuomo’s ambitious clean energy agenda, Next w York is putting in place all the right ingredients to create a thriving solar industry that is creating good paying jobs in communities across the state,” said Alicia Barton, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA). “Under the governor’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy, which includes initiatives like NY-Sun and New York Green Bank, our state is attracting private capital and driving innovation in project development and financing that will put us on a pathway to meeting our nation-leading commitment to obtaining 50 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030.”
For the entire story at the Solar Foundation ,
