Over 3.5 Million Americans Work in Clean Energy

The clean energy job market is booming and experiencing exponential growth. There are more than 3.5 million people now working in clean energy in the U.S in 2022.

The clean energy job market is booming, according to multiple reports from credible online sources. We estimate that more than 3 million people now work in clean energy in the U.S.

Reports in partnership with the research team at BW Research Partnership based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Energy corroborate this level of growth. As part of the analysis, more than 20,000 businesses were surveyed nationwide.

Which sector accounted for the most clean energy jobs? Energy efficiency came in at the top spot — the sector includes workers who manufacture efficient appliances, create energy efficient materials and insulation and install efficient lighting products, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) workers specifically focused on energy-efficient projects and products.

Renewable energy generation ranked as the No. 2 top employer, with solar energy workers making up a large portion of current clean energy professionals.

Here’s a closer look:

• The energy efficiency sector accounts for nearly three out of every four American clean energy jobs, or 2.3 million workers
• Renewable energy generation employs nearly 414,000 people.
• About 300,000 of renewable energy workers are employed by solar energy businesses.

More Clean Energy Jobs to Come

Growth in clean energy jobs is expected to continue, thanks to the Clean Power Plan, global carbon-reduction commitments in Paris, and the renewed tax credits for solar power.

According to The Solar Foundation, the U.S. solar industry had a 20 percent job growth rate for the third consecutive year in 2015. Even more impressive is the fact that the industry has added more than 115,000 jobs since 2010 — a job creation rate that’s 12 times higher than what the rest of the economy experienced during the same time frame.

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