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Exhibiting how a lot the photo voltaic trade is each 1) a significant supply of jobs within the US and a couple of) a quick rising phase of the economic system, the 14th annual Nationwide Photo voltaic Jobs Census by the Interstate Renewable Vitality Council (IREC) was simply printed and contains two massive stats: 15,564 photo voltaic jobs have been created in 2023, and which means the 12 months ended with a report 279,447 photo voltaic staff by the top of the 12 months.
Not solely that, however for those who’re a little bit broader together with your definition of a photo voltaic employee, the full will get significantly greater. “The Solar Jobs Census defines a solar worker as someone spending the majority of their time on solar-related work. When those who spend less than half of their time on solar are included, the total rises to 364,544 workers. When including energy storage workers, there were 454,136 workers who spent at least part of their time on either solar energy or clean storage.” That’s virtually half one million jobs!
Naturally, there are various elementary elements concerning solar energy that make it aggressive, make it dominate new energy capability, and result in so many roles. One has to notice that the Inflation Discount Act Biden and Democrats handed two years in the past has been having a substantial impact. “Federal policies like the Inflation Reduction Act are helping drive a historic level of clean energy deployment and job creation,” Larry Sherwood, IREC President and CEO, famous. Additionally, rooftop photo voltaic markets in some states actually bought rolling, whereas a big pipeline of utility-scale tasks led to many roles.
“The utility-scale solar job market saw a turnaround in 2023, adding nearly 2,000 jobs (a 6.8% increase) and reversing a decline in 2022. The residential market also saw gains with nearly 6,000 jobs added (6.3% growth), but this marked a slowdown compared to 2022 when residential jobs grew by 11%,” IREC notes.
“Solar jobs increased in 47 states in 2023, with notable increases in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. An interactive map of solar jobs by state, with links to state-specific fact sheets, is available at SolarJobsCensus.org.”
Curiously, the photo voltaic trade can be unionizing an increasing number of. It’s not close to a majority state of affairs, however IREC notes that the share of unionized workers climbed three share factors to 13.4%, which is nearly twice as excessive because the unionization charge throughout the non-public sector normally.
The trade is main in different methods as nicely. Nonetheless, IREC notes there’s nonetheless room for enchancment. “The solar industry continues to outpace the rest of the economy when it comes to employing Gen Z, veteran, and union workers, but only a quarter of the surveyed firms have a strategy in place to hire more women and people of color. As demand for clean energy continues to grow, the industry must invest in workforce development strategies that support equitable growth and create new economic pathways for all Americans.” Certainly.
“The Solar Jobs Census found that the percentages of women, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and other diverse groups in the solar industry have improved in recent years. However, there remains much more work to be done. The interviews with industry representatives revealed a number of strategies that companies are successfully utilizing to increase diversity and inclusion in the workforce, such as community partnerships with local high schools and vocational schools.”
Maybe essentially the most uplifting factor from the report, although, is how a lot the labor market is turning into extra ready for work within the photo voltaic trade. Whereas 29% of employers responded that it was “very difficult” to search out certified staff, that’s down from 44% in 2022. Workforce coaching is rising and getting extra individuals into the sector, however there are nonetheless massive challenges within the trade discovering expert laborers, akin to electricians, engineers, and other people with experience in batteries.
Once more, you’ll find extra within the report right here.
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