US solar jobs increase by 13%

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The number of people employed by the US solar power industry increased by over 13% since 2011, according to non-profit solar education and research organisation, the Solar Foundation.

According to the Washington-based foundation, the industry added 13,872 employees in the year ended in September –  a 13.2% increase that brought total domestic employment to 119,016.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Andrea Luecke, executive director of the Solar Foundation, said: “During the past several years, the solar industry has grown at significantly higher rates than most other industries, making it one of the foremost creators of new jobs in the United States.”

The group noted that the 13.2% growth rate was eight times the overall economy’s growth rate of 1.6%.

Luecke said: “Nearly one third of employers who responded to the survey cited the continued decline in component prices as the primary driver of employment growth.”

The organisation cited federal tax incentives, renewable portfolio standards and legislation supporting third-party system ownership as other helpful factors.

The Solar Foundation said the report – done with BW Research and technical assistance from Cornell University – was compiled using data collected from more than 1,000 solar companies. That gave the report a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5%.

Along with the 2012 employment figure, the Solar Foundation released a revised figure for 2011, boosting it from 100,237 to 105,145.

A statement released by the Solar Foundation said:  “As in previous years, the survey examined employment along the solar value chain, including installation, wholesale trade, manufacturing, utilities and all other fields and includes growth rates and job numbers for 31 separate occupations.”

Philip Jordan, Chief Business Officer at BW Research Partnership, said: “The National Solar Jobs Census 2012 provides a solid point of reference about solar industry employment that wasn’t available three years ago.

“The Solar Foundation’s research is allowing training providers, job seekers and the public to understand the solar job market with a high degree of confidence.”

Do you have an opinion on this article?  Share your views with the industry on our Solar Business Focus LinkedIn group.

Read Next

July 3, 2025
Malaysian engineering and infrastructure giant Gamuda has expanded its presence in the Australian renewables sector by partnering with Tasmanian landowners to build a 1.2GW portfolio, which includes solar PV.
July 2, 2025
A new state-owned green bank, the Energy Security Corporation (ESC), has launched in New South Wales, Australia, with an initial funding allocation of AU$1 billion (US$640 million).
July 2, 2025
Asset management firm Capital Dynamics has secured €110 million (US$129.4 million) in financing for three solar PV projects in Spain.
July 2, 2025
The US Senate has narrowly passed – with a 51-50 vote and with vice-president JD Vance breaking the tie – the reconciliation bill yesterday (1 July) without the solar and wind excise tax.
Premium
July 2, 2025
ANALYSIS: China's leading PV manufacturers are locked in a new round of competition, aiming to outpace each other through record-breaking feats.
July 2, 2025
Investment manager Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has begun commercial operations at a 373MW solar PV plant in the UK.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK