Utility-scale jobs dipped in 2022 while residential boomed

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U.S. Solar Energy Workforce to Grow 3.5% in 2022 as Jobs Boom in Clean Energy Storage, According to 13th Annual Report National Photovoltaic Power Generation Employment Survey announced by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

There are 263,883 solar workers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, an increase of 8,846 jobs from 2021, according to a new report. This total also includes workers who spend most of their time in solar-related jobs.

Clean energy storage jobs, including battery storage, increased 4.6% over 2021 and 28% over 2017. IREC, an independent non-profit organization, National Photovoltaic Power Generation Employment Survey It provides a comprehensive analysis of solar-related job growth and workforce development each year. This year’s report includes additional data on the storage and other clean energy industries.

“The solar industry has grown exponentially over the past decade, surmounting one challenge after another, and bringing together Americans of all educational levels and backgrounds,” said IREC President and CEO Larry Sherwood. provided 250,000 jobs for “The passage of the Inflation Control Act is expected to lead to a transformative increase in jobs in the solar, battery and other clean energy industries over the next few years.”

Employment in the housing market sector increased by 11%, or about 9,500 jobs, as 2022 marked a record year for new residential solar installations. Meanwhile, the threat of new tariffs and other supply chain concerns led to a slowdown in the electricity business. About 6,000 jobs were lost in the large market segment.

About two-thirds of all solar jobs (171,558 jobs) were with installation and project development companies. Photovoltaic manufacturing jobs totaled 33,473, but these jobs will drop from 2023 onwards as companies announce the construction of new photovoltaic manufacturing facilities in the country in response to the Inflation Control Act. could increase significantly.

solar power related jobs Grows in 42 States and Puerto Rico California (2,404) added the most jobs to date, followed by New York (988), Texas (904), Florida (506) and Massachusetts (476) .

In addition to 263,883 workers spending most of their time on solar power, some workers spent less than half of their time on solar-related work. A total of 346,143 workers spent all or part of their time on solar power.

“Solar energy projects offer opportunities for professionals with diverse skills and create high-paying jobs in the communities where we build and operate,” said George Hirschman, CEO of SOLV Energy. says. “Furthermore, the demand for solar power will have a job-creating ripple effect on critical equipment, fences and even other industries that provide lunch for workers, allowing local businesses to employ more workers. We are generating profits to do.”

The tight labor market in the photovoltaic industry is increasing employment challenges. In 2022, 44% of his solar industry employers said it would be “extremely difficult” to find qualified applicants. Such percentages are the highest ever recorded anywhere in the world. Photovoltaic related employment survey.

“In 2022, the U.S. solar industry will remain resilient, with more than 263,000 Americans continued to employ .” “More than half of new solar jobs in 2022 will not require a bachelor’s degree, helping even more Americans launch careers in forward-thinking, mission-driven industries.” And while we’ve made great strides in welcoming more women and people of color into the solar industry, we must continue to develop comprehensive and purposeful workforce development strategies that can enable a clean energy future. it won’t work. ”

In 2022, 85,858 workers were employed in clean storage jobs, 85% of whom worked in battery storage. In total, about 432,000 workers were working in solar energy or clean storage in 2022.

There will be a total of 125,580 wind energy jobs in 2022, up 4.5% from 120,164 in 2021. Among the states, Texas leads the nation with nearly 26,000 wind energy jobs. Overall, there were 546,630 workers in renewable energy power generation industries such as solar, wind, traditional hydropower, low-load hydropower and geothermal power.

In the United States, 2023 growth in solar jobs is a promising prospect as supply chain concerns are eased and installations increase. In the future, the impact of anti-inflation laws could lead to even more jobs in solar and other clean energy industries.

This report is based on research conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s BW Research partnership. US Energy and Jobs Report 2023. The full report and data are available below. http://www.solarjobscensus.org.

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