55% of energy sector jobs are in clean energy; 1 in 4 construction jobs 17,000 jobs lost since COVID-19, wiping out over 19% of industry’s workforce Clean energy paid a $25.40 median hourly wage in 2019; 11% higher than WA median, 32% higher than U.S. median Olympia, WA (November 24, 2020) – Led by strong […]
Energy Efficiency (EE)—the largest U.S. energy sector—can repower America’s economy as we work to overcome the economic effects of the pandemic. As lawmakers and policymakers seek to get America back to work after the COVID-19 health and economic crisis, every job matters. From 2015 to 2019, the energy efficiency sector became one of the biggest, fastest-growing, and most beneficial sectors for both our economy and our environment.
This report details the size of this important employment sector, the troubles it is facing due to COVID-19, and how focusing recovery policies on efficiency can help boost America’s economy— quickly and for the long run.
The 20210 Energy Efficiency Jobs in America report includes an 11-page national summary and individual factsheets for all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia that include more detailed findings including job totals for every congressional and legislative district, industry and technology breakdowns, and maps of every state’s top counties.
This annual report focuses solely on the energy sector of the economy. Jobs in retail trade, vehicle efficiency-related work, and the 4.2 million jobs related to efficient manufacturing processes are excluded from these numbers.
To download the national summary, click here or the report cover above.
For all 51 individual factsheets, visit https://ee.e4thefuture.org/ or .
For questions on this report, methodology, reported job numbers, or requests for specific additional data, email E2 Communications Director Michael Timberlake ([email protected]). An FAQ for the report, including answers to questions on methodology, is available here.
If you are looking for additional insight into E4TheFuture and E2’s other research and publications on the energy economy, visit E4TheFuture’s Publications homepage or E2’s Reports homepage.
This report follows E2’s Clean Jobs America analysis which found the clean energy jobs account for nearly 3.4 million jobs across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Both reports expand on data from the U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) produced by the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) in partnership with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), using data collected and analyzed by the BW Research Partnership. E2 and E4TheFuture is a partner on the USEER, the fifth installment of the energy survey first released by the Department of Energy in 2016.
View Report »28% of energy sector workers are in energy efficiency, 2X more than fossil fuels Entry-level wages in all sectors well exceed the national average 700,000 new jobs per year for 5 years could be created by $61 billion targeted stimulus WASHINGTON DC (November 19, 2020) – Energy efficiency — which led U.S. energy-sector job growth […]
**This memo has been revised and is available here. The numbers presented in the original Nov. 12, 2020 memo are based on data issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Nov. 6, 2020. An update to that data was made by the BLS in the Feb. 5, 2021 Employment Situation report** 40+ states […]
First-of-its-kind report shows clean energy jobs more likely to include health care, retirement benefits Median wages in solar, wind, grid modernization higher than jobs in coal, natural gas and petroleum fuels Findings support calls to power U.S. recovery with clean energy jobs WASHINGTON (October 22, 2020) – Clean energy jobs paid 25% more than the […]
Oregon is among the top states in the country where “clean energy” jobs pay particularly well compared to the statewide median wage, according to a new report. The median hourly wage for clean energy jobs in Oregon in 2019 was $23.91, 20.9 percent higher than the median wage for all jobs.
About This ReportTo understand the quality of employment opportunities in clean energy-related industries, E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), and the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) commissioned BW Research to analyze wages and benefits of occupations in clean energy industries in comparison to all occupations nationwide, sectors heavily impacted by the pandemic crisis, and other energy-related occupations.
This report analyzed clean energy wages, benefits and unionization rates across all five clean energy sectors (renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, clean fuels, clean vehicles, and grid modernization and storage) with detailed demographic data for 15 specific clean energy occupations, and how they compare with similar jobs in other industries. Also detailed in the report are state-specific wage findings for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The Clean Jobs, Better Jobs report is the first comprehensive analysis of wages and benefits across the clean energy sector. According to the report, workers in renewable energy, energy efficiency, grid modernization and storage, clean fuels and clean vehicles earned a median hourly wage of $23.89 in 2019 compared with the national median wage of $19.14. In addition, jobs in many clean energy sectors are more likely to be unionized and come with health care and retirement benefits than the rest of the private sector, the analysis shows.
Clean Jobs, Better Jobs comes amid the growing national dialogue around clean energy as federal and state leaders look for ways to restart the economy. The findings underscore the opportunity to advance smart clean energy policies that create higher-wage opportunities putting Americans back to work quickly rebuilding a cleaner, more resilient and more equitable economy. The report also provides detailed wage, benefit, education and demographic data for 15 specific clean energy occupations, and how they compare with similar jobs in other industries outside of clean energy.
Overall, median wages in clean energy are significantly higher than median wages in sectors such as retail, services, recreation and accommodations, especially when it comes to entry-level wages. Solar energy workers earn $24.48 an hour, while wind and grid modernization jobs pay on average more than $25 an hour. Energy efficiency – the largest employer in the nation’s energy sector – supports a median hourly wage of $24.44, about 28% above the national median.
Many clean energy jobs also paid better than fossil fuel jobs. Jobs in coal, natural gas and petroleum fuels paid $24.37 an hour, while solar and wind jobs combined for a $24.85 median hourly wage. Clean energy industries also employed about three times more workers than fossil fuels did in 2019, and, unlike fossil fuel jobs, clean energy jobs are available in every state, regardless of geology or geography.
Before COVID-19, clean energy had been one of the nation’s fastest-growing sectors. At the end of 2019, clean energy employed nearly 3.4 million workers across 99% of U.S. counties, according to E2’s Clean Jobs America report.
The complete report is available for download at this link.
The analysis expands on data from the 2020 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) produced by the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) in partnership with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), using data collected and analyzed by the BW Research Partnership. The report was released in March 2020 and is available at www.usenergyjobs.org. E2 is a partner on the USEER, the fifth installment of the energy survey first released by the Department of Energy in 2016 and subsequently abandoned under the Trump administration. Clean energy jobs have grown every year since the first report was released in 2016.
If you are looking for additional insight into this report or E2’s more than a dozen other annual clean energy employment reports, visit e2.org/reports. You can also contact E2 Communications Director Michael Timberlake ([email protected]).
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Clean energy jobs pay better than the typical U.S. job, up to 25% more or some $2-$5 more per hour, according to recent research from Brookings and an new report commissioned by a group of clean energy organizations.
40+ states continue to suffer double-digit unemployment in clean energy 14% of sector’s workforce still jobless as industry nears slow season WASHINGTON (October 8, 2020) – The clean energy industry expected to add over 175,000 jobs this year, but enters the final months of 2020 down 477,862 jobs as a stalled recovery plagues the sector. […]
In 2019, clean energy jobs in Pennsylvania increased for the seventh straight year since E2 began releasing annual clean energy jobs reports in the state, growing to nearly 94,000 workers statewide before the effects of the coronavirus outbreak impacted the nation’s economy. A regional and national leader in clean energy jobs, Pennsylvania ranked just outside the top ten (11th) for total clean energy jobs among all 50 states and the District of Columbia for the third year in a row. Since 2017, the state has added more new jobs (8,253) than six of the current top ten states and now trails No. 10 Virginia by fewer than 3,500 workers.
Despite its large workforce size, recent years of strong growth and consistent high performance across clean technologies, Pennsylvania’s clean economy is underperforming its potential, as the state’s clean energy workforce still makes up a lower share of total statewide jobs than the national average. Growth in recent years has been driven primarily by energy efficiency, solar energy, and grid modernization—high growth areas for the future that will be important as the state’s economy faces its toughest test as the nation reels and rebuilds after the impact of COVID-19 economic shutdowns.
E2, the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance (KEEA), the Green Building Alliance (GBA), Green Building United, the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, and Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Clean Jobs Pennsylvania 2020 details the size, scope, and diversity of this important employment sector, the troubles it is currently facing due to the pandemic, and how focusing recovery policies on clean energy can get struggling Pennsylvania workers and businesses back on track and the state’s economy up and running again for the long run.
The complete report is available for download at this link.
The analysis expands on data from the 2020 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) produced by the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) in partnership with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), using data collected and analyzed by the BW Research Partnership. The report was released in March 2020and is available at www.usenergyjobs.org. E2 is a partner on the USEER, the fifth installment of the energy survey first released by the Department of Energy in 2016 and subsequently abandoned under the Trump administration. Clean energy jobs have grown every year since the first report was released in 2016.
If you are looking for additional insight into E2’s Clean Jobs Pennsylvania 2020 or our other Clean Jobs America reports, visit e2.org/reports. You can also contact E2 Communications Director Michael Timberlake ([email protected]). An FAQ is also available here to answer any questions.
Clean Jobs Pennsylvania 2020 is the 5th statewide clean energy jobs report from E2. Previous reports can be accessed in the below links.
PA was home to 11th most clean energy jobs before COVID-19 Jobs in renewables grew 11.8% from 2017-2019 as natural gas employment dropped 10% 18,000 jobs lost since COVID-19, wiping out 19% of industry’s workforce Pittsburgh (September 23, 2020) – Led by strong growth in solar energy, grid modernization, and energy efficiency, Pennsylvania added more […]
Climate change is the most significant global threat we face today. It also represents an unprecedented opportunity to build a clean economy by electrifying and decarbonizing our world, equitably and profitably. Momentum is building as businesses and governments transform their organizations to be more efficient and resilient. The VERGE 20 online event is the leading […]