U.S. Solar Workforce Grew 17-Times Faster than Economy Overall in 2016

The Solar Foundation’s (TSF) seventh annual National Solar Jobs Census reveals that the U.S. solar industry continues to create jobs at a much faster clip than has been the case for the national economy as a whole. Collectively, U.S. solar energy sector businesses created one of every 50 new jobs nationwide last year and more than 51,000 in total, according to The Solar Foundation’s “National Solar Jobs Census 2016.”

Compared to 2015, the U.S. solar workforce expanded a record-high 25 percent in 2016 as more than 51,000 new solar industry were created. That brought the sector-wide total as of year-end to 260,077, TSF highlights in a press release.

The statistics and information contained in TSF’s “National Solar Jobs Census 2016” offers much in the way of new evidence that can substantiate calls on President Donald Trump and his administration to carry on former President Barack Obama’s legacy of federal leadership and support for U.S. solar and renewable energy emanating from within the industry and Congress, as well as more broadly across U.S. society.

U.S. solar jobs growth sets a record high in 2016

“With a near tripling of solar jobs since 2010, the solar industry is an American success story that has created hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs,” TSF president and executive director Andrea Luecke was quoted in the press release. “In 2016, we saw a dramatic increase in the solar workforce across the nation, thanks to a rapid decrease in the cost of solar panels and unprecedented consumer demand for solar installations.

“More than ever, it’s clear that solar energy is a low-cost, reliable, super-abundant American energy source that is driving economic growth, strengthening businesses, and making our cities smarter and more resilient.”

Geographically, the number of solar industry jobs rose in 44 of 50 states. More solar jobs were created in California than in any other state (no surprise there). Massachusetts, Texas, Nevada and Florida followed, in descending order of solar jobs created.

A state by state tally of U.S. solar jobs, along with annual 2016 growth rates, is available on TSF’s SolarJobsCensus-dot-org.

Furthermore, the record-high annual gain in U.S. solar job creation in 2016 extended across the industry value chain:

• Solar installation jobs gained 14% to total 137,133;
• Solar manufacturing jobs increased 26 percent as 38,121 new jobs were created;
• Project development jobs rose 53 percent with the creation of 34,400 new solar jobs;
• Solar sales and distribution jobs increased 32 percent with the addition of 32,147 new jobs.

Digging further into the data, TSF highlights the growing numbers of U.S. military veterans working in the solar industry. Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces make up 9 percent of the national solar industry workforce. That compares to 7 percent across the national economy, according to TSF.

Diversity in the U.S. solar workforce

More American women and ethnic minorities are working in the U.S. solar sector as well. The percentage of women employed in the solar industry rose 3 percent to 28 percent year-over-year in 2016, according to TSF.

The percentage of African-Americans in the U.S. solar workforce rose 5 points in 2016 to end the year at 7 percent, while the percentage of Latino/Hispanic Americans working in the solar industry increased from 11 to 17 percent.

“It’s really a wide range of people that get hired into this industry, everybody from certified and licensed engineers to those who first learned about a solar project when we were building one in their area,” commented George Hershman, SVP and GM at Swinerton Renewable Energy.

“A great aspect of this business is that it isn’t an exclusionary trade. It’s a teachable job that can create opportunity for people and give them a skill.”

Whither Trump on U.S. Solar, Renewable Energy?

GM’s Global Manager of Renewable Energy Rob Threlkeld expanded on the theme. “Renewable energy use translates to bottom-line benefits such as lower and more stable energy costs for GM in the long term,” he said in a statement.

“With more than 67 megawatts of solar housed at 24 facilities across the globe, we see the power of sunshine as an integral part of becoming a more sustainable company.”

The success of ex-President Barack Obama’s administration in acquiring and applying federal funds, taking the actions required to forge a comprehensive, integrated and solid federal policy platform and institutional framework has been seminal, and critical, to launching what is now a vibrant, vital and still fast-growing solar industry. Solar and other renewable energy and cleantech sectors are poised to become a mainstay of the U.S. economy and society.

Donald Trump’s surprising presidential election victory cast a dark cloud over the outlook for solar energy in the U.S. Concerns persist, but various news reports and interviews with solar industry sources and other stakeholders reveal guarded optimism that President Trump will stay the course and carry on Obama’s legacy of open, equitable and steadfast support for U.S. solar.

“President Trump clearly understands the power of competition, which aligns well with our goal of ensuring that solar energy can compete on a level ground with other energy sources,” SEIA vice president of communications Dan Whitten said in a recent interview.

*Images credit: The Solar Foundation; “National Solar Jobs Census 2016”