Solar energy industry jobs modestly increased in 2019
The solar energy workforce grew in the United States grew by 2.3 percent last year, according to the National Solar Jobs Census 2019 released today by The Solar Foundation.
The U.S. solar industry now employs 249,983 people — up from 244,340 in 2018.
Jobs ticked up due in part to the phase-down of section 201 tariffs, along with declining solar costs and deployment growth in several state markets. Still, tariffs remain a drag on job growth, explained Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industry Association.
“For the last few years, the data has been clear: U.S. solar jobs grow when trade restrictions decline. More than half of companies surveyed in the National Solar Jobs Census 2019 reported that policy challenges are a significant deterrent to their growth,” Hopper said. “Adding more than 5,000 new jobs is impressive given the policy environment, but we could be leaps and bounds ahead of where we are if it weren’t for trade restrictions. SEIA’s recent report shows that tariffs prevented tens of thousands of additional jobs from being created over the last three years. These are well-paying jobs that support families and boost communities.”
Hopper said the solar industry will need to evolve if it’s going to comprise 20 percent of U.S. electricity generation by 2030.
“Managing our growth will be a key part of this work, and we’ll continue to focus our efforts on workforce development and making sure the opportunities we create are open and accessible to all Americans,” Hopper said.
