1.
44.5% of solar firms expect to add solar workers.
22,200 additional solar are expected to be added in 2014.
15.6% vs. 1.4% — Employment in the solar industry is
expected to grow by 15.6% over 2014, while employment in the overall
economy is expected to grow by only 1.4%.
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
2010 Jobs 2011 Jobs 2012 Jobs 2013 Jobs 2014 Projected
Installation Manufacturing Sales and Distribution Project Development* Other* *
Annual Growth
Projected Growth
Census 2013 found that solar companies across all sectors increased their workforce.
*Data on the Project Development sector in 2010 and 2011 is not available
**Other category between years are not necessarily a reflection of actual increases or decreases in
employment, but may instead be due to changes in the types of jobs included in this category.
Continued Growth Across All Sectors
The National Solar Jobs Census series is a product of The Solar
Foundation®, conducted annually since 2010. The inaugural Census
established the first credible employment baseline for the domestic
solar industry.
The Census surveys solar employers and quantifies jobs across all
solar technologies and industry subsectors. Since 2010, employment
has grown by 53%, representing nearly 50,000 new U.S. solar jobs.
About the Census
National Solar Jobs Census 2013
The Solar Foundation
State
Total Workers
2013
Rank
2013
Total Workers
2012
Rank
2012
CA 47,223 1 43,700 1
AZ 8,558 2 9,800 2
NJ 6,500 3 5,700 3
MA 6,400 4 4,500 4
NY 5,000 5 3,300 7
…
Total 142,698 - 119,016 -
Contact InformationAcknowledgements Report Website
In addition to its research and writing support, funding for Census 2013 was provided by the
GW Solar Institute, as well as charitable foundation grants and corporate contributions.
The Solar Foundation
505 9th Street N.W., Suite 800 ● Washington, D.C. 20004
Please visit http://tsfcensus.org or scan the QR code
to the right.
Solar jobs exist in all 50 states and are growing at a very brisk pace in most states. Eighteen Southern,
Mountain and Midwestern states more than doubled solar jobs in 2013. However, California, Arizona, New
Jersey, and Massachusetts account for nearly 50% of total solar jobs in the U.S.
State of the States
+142k – As of November 2013, there are
142,698 solar workers at over 18,000 locations in all 50 states.
20% VS. 1.9% — Between October 2012 and November
2013, the amount of solar workers* grew nearly 20%, while
employment in the national economy grew at only 1.9%.
77% of the nearly 24,000 additional solar workers are in
newly-created positions, rather than simply expanding existing roles.
56 workers were added each day in the U.S. solar industry
across all sectors since the previous Census.
100% — Nine out of ten solar workers spend 100% of their
time working on solar.
*The threshold for a solar worker is any employee who spends at least
50% of their time supporting solar-related activities.
Record-Breaking Growth
The Solar Foundation® is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
whose mission is to increase understanding of solar energy through
strategic research that educates the public and transforms markets.
While TSF recognizes that solar energy is a key part of our energy
future, it is committed to excellence in its aim to help people fairly and
objectively gauge the value of the solar industry worldwide.
About the Solar Foundation®
Sector 2013
2014
Projected
2013-2014
Expected Growth
Rate
Installation 69,658 84,331 21.1%
Manufacturing 29,851 32,429 8.6%
Sales and
Distribution
19,771 22,585 14.2%
Project
Development
12,169 12,529 3.0%
Other 11,248 13,064 16.1%
Total 142,698 164,938 15.6%
2013 Rank State
1 CA
2 AZ
3 NJ
4 MA
5 NY
6 TX
7 FL
8 OH
9 CO
10 NC
Near Future