DOE Report Shows Clean Energy Jobs on the Rise
The Department of Energy’s U.S. Energy & Employment Jobs Report (USEER) has revealed that jobs in the clean energy industry grew by 3.9% last year, outpacing overall U.S. employment and all other forms of energy.
More than 18,000 new U.S. utility-scale clean energy jobs were added in 2022, bringing the total number of U.S. clean energy jobs to over 537,000. This is a significant increase from the 495,000 clean energy jobs reported in 2021.
Solar Jobs Lead the Way
Solar jobs make up the largest share of clean energy jobs, accounting for nearly half of the total. The solar industry added 12,000 jobs in 2022, for a total of over 260,000 solar jobs in the U.S. This is a 5% increase from 2021, when the solar industry employed 250,000.
Wind energy jobs also saw an increase, with over 100,000 jobs reported in 2022. This is a 3.4% increase from the 97,000 jobs reported in 2021.
Clean Energy Jobs Outpace Overall U.S. Employment
The growth in clean energy jobs has outpaced overall U.S. employment for the past several years. In 2022, total U.S. employment grew by 2.7%, while clean energy jobs grew by 3.9%. This is the fourth consecutive year that clean energy job growth has outpaced overall U.S. employment.
The report also found that clean energy jobs are more likely to be held by women and minorities than other forms of energy. Women make up nearly one-third of clean energy jobs, compared to 24% of jobs in traditional energy sources. Additionally, minorities make up 28% of clean energy jobs, compared to 23% of traditional energy jobs.
Clean Energy Jobs Growing Across the Country
Clean energy jobs are growing in all 50 states, with California, Texas, and Florida leading the way. California has the most clean energy jobs, with over 110,000 in 2022. Texas and Florida come in second and third, with over 75,000 and over 60,000 clean energy jobs, respectively.
The report also found that states with strong clean energy policies have seen the most growth in clean energy jobs. For example, Nevada has seen a 20% increase in clean energy jobs since 2021, due in part to its Renewable Portfolio Standard, which requires utilities to generate 25% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025.
Conclusion
The USEER report shows that clean energy jobs are on the rise in the U.S., with solar jobs leading the way. Clean energy jobs are growing in all 50 states, and states with strong clean energy policies have seen the most growth. This is good news for the clean energy industry, as more jobs means more investment and more opportunity for growth.
To learn more about clean energy jobs and investments, check out this article about a 152MW agrivoltaics plant in Indiana.
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