Summary
North Carolina’s clean energy workforce ranks ninth among all states with 105,370 jobs. The state added 1,898 new clean energy jobs, a 1.8 percent increase in 2022. Clean energy now accounts for over 50 percent of all energy industry jobs in North Carolina and 44 percent of net new energy jobs added in the past year.
- RENEWABLE ENERGY: North Carolina’s renewable energy workforce grew 4.8 percent in 2022, bringing the sector to 12,606 jobs–the second largest clean energy sector workforce in the state behind energy efficiency, and the eighth largest renewable energy workforce in U.S. Solar energy accounted for the majority of jobs in renewable energy, employing 9,091 workers.
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY: North Carolina’s energy efficiency sector accounted for 78,338 total jobs–the largest clean energy sector workforce in the state. Energy efficiency now accounts for over 74 percent of all clean energy jobs in North Carolina and is the seventh largest energy efficiency workforce in the U.S.
- STORAGE AND GRID MODERNIZATION: Jobs in battery, storage, and grid modernization grew 9.2 percent in 2022, bringing the sector’s workforce to a total to 3,857 in North Carolina. Storage and grid modernization was the fastest growing clean energy sector in the state, and the eighth fastest growing storage and grid sector among U.S. states.
- CLEAN VEHICLES: North Carolina’s clean vehicle sector accounted for 9,049 total jobs in 2022, growing 7.7 percent in 2022. Hybrid electric vehicles led the sector, employing 4,100 individuals.
- BIOFUELS: North Carolina has the sixth largest biofuels workforce in the U.S. with 1,520 jobs. Biofuel jobs increased 2.1 percent in 2022.
Previous Reports
Clean Jobs North Carolina 2023 is the 5th clean energy jobs report for North Carolina from E2. Previous reports can be accessed in the below links.
Background
This is the fifth annual Clean Jobs North Carolina report produced by E2 based on analysis of the 2023 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER), which was first released by the Department of Energy (DOE) in 2016. E2 was an original proponent of the DOE producing the USEER and was a partner on the reports produced by the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) and National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) after the Trump administration abandoned it in 2017. For methodology questions, see pages 201-206 of the 2023 USEER.
For additional insight into E2’s Clean Jobs North Carolina or our other annual clean energy economic reports, visit e2.org/reports.
An FAQ is available at e2.org/reports/clean-jobs-america-faq.