Clean Energy Jobs on the Rise in the U.S.

There is a growing trend in the United States that is not only benefiting the planet but also providing a boost to the economy – the boom in clean energy jobs. According to the Department of Energy’s annual report, the U.S. added 142,000 clean energy jobs last year, with employment in this sector growing more than twice as fast as in the overall energy industry and the economy. In fact, of the more than 250,000 jobs added in the energy sector last year, 56% were in clean energy.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm highlighted the significance of these findings, stating, “The data clearly show that clean energy means jobs – good jobs, union jobs, and jobs retained – in communities across the country as we race to dominate the global clean energy economy.”

The sectors experiencing significant job growth include zero-emission vehicles, renewable energy, transmission, and storage. This growth is seen as essential by the Biden administration in meeting its goal of achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035.

In addition to traditional energy construction jobs, the report also found an increase of 28,000 jobs in 2023 in building new battery and solar module factories, ports for offshore wind, and warehouses for storing and transporting clean energy products.

President Biden has also taken steps to further promote clean energy jobs by announcing a federal jobs training program called the American Climate Corps. This program aims to employ over 20,000 young adults in activities such as building trails, planting trees, installing solar panels, and other conservation work to help prevent catastrophic wildfires.

On a local level, officials are also investing in clean energy jobs. For example, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker recently announced a $30 million investment to build a clean energy workforce in Chicago’s historically impoverished areas, with the goal of creating over 1,000 solar energy jobs in the next three years. Similarly, in Brooklyn, New York, electricians are being trained for projects focused on climate resiliency and sustainability.

Globally, there has been a significant increase in job postings requiring green skills, which rose by over 22% in 2023 compared to the previous year. Additionally, the share of workers with clean energy experience increased by 12.3%, indicating a growing demand for clean energy professionals.