Clean energy jobs drop for first time since pandemic crisis, second since tracking began in 2015
WASHINGTON – The U.S clean energy workforce fell by nearly 37,000 jobs last year, according to new analysis by the national nonpartisan business group E2. Overall, more than 3.5 million Americans still work in clean energy—the largest employment sector in the energy industry.
The analysis of recently released U.S. Department of Energy data reflects the impacts of the first year of the Trump administration’s policy actions against clean energy, including the July 2025 passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which rolled back tax incentives and programs for clean energy manufacturing, generation, and job creation. The numbers released today represent the first time since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic that companies cut clean energy jobs.
Three of the largest clean energy sectors – renewables, energy efficiency and clean vehicles – saw job losses in 2025, with losses felt in 35 states. The biggest impacts were felt in states with the largest clean energy workforces, with California alone losing almost 21,000 jobs.
The analysis was released during E2 events at Climate Week in New York.
Following is a statement from Bob Keefe, executive director of E2:
“These numbers paint a clear picture of what is happening after a year of project cancellations and federal policy attacks. When federal leaders play politics, American workers and our economy pay the price.”
Michael Timberlake, director of research for E2 said:
“America’s clean energy jobs boom didn’t just slow in 2025—it went into reverse. After four consecutive years of strong growth, the industry lost nearly 37,000 jobs—its first decline since the pandemic.”
The data represents an early look at E2’s upcoming 11th annual Clean Jobs America analysis. The full report—which will include expanded findings on clean energy jobs across every state, county, industry, and all 47 clean energy sub-technologies—is expected to be released later this October.
The employment decline follows the sharp reversal in project activity that E2 began tracking in 2025. According to E2’s Clean Economy Works project tracker, companies canceled or downsized 142 clean energy manufacturing, generation and storage projects in response to abrupt federal policy rollbacks last year.
To download the analysis memo with table totals by state and sector, click here.
To arrange interviews with Bob Keefe or Michael Timberlake, contact Ana Little-Saña ([email protected]) or Alex Frank ([email protected]).
The full Clean Jobs America 2026, with complete state, county, subsector, per capita, and historical data will be released later this October, including an updated interactive county and state map. Contact Ana Little-Saña ([email protected]) or Alex Frank ([email protected]) if you would like to receive an early notice of that report.
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About E2’s Analysis
Employment figures are based on data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2026 U.S. Energy & Employment Report (USEER), with prior-year comparisons from E2’s Clean Jobs America 2025. This latest data coincides with employment estimates at the end of Q4 2025. USEER counts jobs rather than unique workers and uses survey-based estimates; totals may not sum exactly because of rounding.
Additional Resources:
- E2: Clean Jobs America 2025 | Interactive Jobs Map & Full Data Tables
- E2: Clean Economy Works Project Tracker
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E2 is a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors, and professionals from every sector of the economy who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. Our members have founded or funded more than 2,500 companies, created more than 600,000 jobs, and managed more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital. For more information, see www.e2.org or follow us on X/Twitter at @e2org and Bluesky at @e2.org.