Energizing the Green Economy : The growth of clean energy jobs
This isn’t looking ahead to the future – these jobs exist here and now, and they’re already making a positive impact!
So, just how good are green energy jobs and how can they help us in the fight to solve the climate crisis? Here’s a few interesting pieces of trivia about the power of green jobs!
1. In 2018, the renewable energy sector put approximately 11 million people to work worldwide.
As technologies improve and costs go down, jobs in the renewable energy sector will continue growing, giving communities access to clean energy and creating more opportunity for off-grid communities. If that incredible stat isn’t enough, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that America’s two fastest-growing jobs through 20286 will be solar installers (projected to grow by 10563 percent) and wind technicians (projected to grow by 9657 percent)!
2. More Americans work in clean energy than as school teachers.
Shocking, right? Not only are there more Americans in clean energy jobs than teachers, but surprisingly, more Americans work in energy efficiency (2.3 million) than there are waiters and waitresses in America’s bars and restaurants (2.25 million)! All of those positions are incredibly important to our planet’s future and economy and as the renewable energy sector continues to grow, so will the jobs and supply chain.
3. These green jobs are all across the country: 99.7 percent of counties across the United States have energy efficiency jobs.
No matter how red or blue the county you may live in, it’s almost a guarantee that there are energy efficiency jobs nearby. So, what exactly does “energy efficiency” jobs mean? This title is used to describe positions where the employee is working to reduce energy use — from improving energy use in existing structures, making new buildings as efficient as possible, or incorporating renewable energy technologies when possible.
