There are 2.3% more people are employed by the solar energy industry in 2019, representing a total of 249,983 people, The Solar Foundation’s “National Solar Jobs Census,” revealed.
With substantial job losses in 2017 and 2018, the numbers in 2019 are hopeful rays of sunshine for the industry. It also echoed the promising growth of the solar energy circuit that has ballooned more than 167% since the publication of the first census for 2010, the non-profit The Solar Foundation said in a statement on Wednesday.
“In just ten years, despite facing many challenges, solar has grown from a niche product to a mainstream energy source that provides a quarter of a million high-quality jobs,” Andrea Luecke, The Solar Foundation’s president and executive director, said.
Even with a 3.4% drop in solar jobs compared to 2018, the state of California still represents the most jobs in solar energy companies in 2019, accounting for at least 74,255 workers in total. On average, solar employment grew in 31 states last year.
“This is great news, but it’s only a fraction of what can be accomplished if we are truly committed to solving the climate crisis and expanding the use of solar and storage,” Luecke added. “It’s past time for us to unite as a nation and create even more jobs by harnessing the power of the sun.”
