Nearly every U.S. state saw an increase in clean energy jobs in 2018, combining to add about 110,000 net new jobs for a growth rate of 3.6%, according to a new analysis of energy jobs data by the national nonpartisan business group E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs).
Overall, clean energy jobs totaled more than 3.26 million at the end of last year. This means clean jobs outnumber fossil fuels jobs nearly three to one (3.26M to 1.17M) and clean energy employers said they anticipate 6% job growth for 2019.
The analysis expands on data from the 2019 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) produced by the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) in partnership with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), using data collected and analyzed by the BW Research Partnership.
Combined, all U.S. clean energy sectors had a total of 3,264,383 jobs. E2’s 2019 Clean Jobs America report further breaks down the data by total clean energy jobs in each sector.
Renewables had a total of 508,484 jobs, including:
- Wind: 111,166
- Solar: 334,992
In addition, these industries totaled:
- Grid and storage: 138,946
- Energy efficiency: 2,324,865
- Clean vehicles: 253,599
- Grid Modernization: 64,377
Energy storage and clean vehicles saw job totals increase sharply from last year, 14% and 15%, respectively, according to the report. This was driven by growing consumer electric vehicle adoption, state expansions of charging infrastructure, falling battery prices, and increased solar-storage installations.
Additional highlights:
- Wind and solar account for nearly two out of every five construction jobs in the electric generation sector
- Solar alone employs more than twice the number of coal workers
- All but two of America’s 3,007 counties are home to jobs in clean energy
- Two-thirds of U.S. clean energy jobs (67%) are involved in construction and manufacturing
- Jobs in grid modernization grew 3.3% in 2018, adding more than 2,000 jobs
- More Americans work in energy efficiency (2.3 million) than there are waiters and waitresses in America’s bars and restaurants (2.25 million)
- More than one out of every three employees working in the energy sector (from traditional energy to motor vehicles) are involved in energy efficiency
- Not included in the clean vehicles sector are 486,000 employees in the motor vehicle industry who work with parts making vehicles more fuel efficient
- There are now more Americans working in clean energy than there are school teachers
Download the report here.
Filed Under: Energy storage, News
