Solar Job Boom Speeds Up

Solar Accounts for 1 in 50 New U.S. Jobs in 2016; National Solar Jobs Census finds solar employment increased in 44 of the 50 states, grew by 25 percent nationwide

February 7, 2017 (The Solar Foundation)

“…The American solar workforce grew at a historic pace in 2016…[and] outpaced the overall U.S. economy by 17 times as it increased by over 51,000 jobs, for a total of 260,077 U.S. solar workers…[S]olar jobs increased in 44 of the 50 states in 2016, showing that solar industry growth is truly a nationwide phenomenon…[led by California, Massachusetts, Texas, Nevada, and Florida. Job] growth in 2016 took place in all job sectors, including a 26 percent growth in manufacturing companies to 38,121 jobs nationwide. Installation jobs increased by 14 percent to a total of 137,133 jobs. Project development jobs increased by 53 percent to 34,400 jobs, while sales and distribution jobs increased by 32 percent to 32,147 jobs…Nine percent of solar workers nationwide are veterans, compared to 7 percent in the overall U.S. workforce…[and] the percentage of solar workers who are women increased from 24 percent in 2015 to 28 percent in 2016, the percentage of African-American solar workers increased from 5 percent to 7 percent, and the percentage of Latino/Hispanic solar workers increased from 11 percent to 17 percent…” click here for more

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