Jobs in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Resilience

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) analyzes employment trends in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate resilience, focusing on the United States and global leaders. It utilizes data from the 2019 U.S. Energy Employment Report (USEER) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to quantify jobs across various green technology sectors.

• Energy efficiency is the fastest-growing energy sector in the United States. In 2018, the sector employed 2,324,866 people according to USEER, representing a growth of over 124,800 jobs since 2016 (a 5.37 percent increase). When including additional categories like energy storage, public transit, smart grids, and vehicles, total employment in energy efficiency exceeds 3 million people.
• Renewable energy employment in the U.S. varies by source. In 2018, solar power supported 242,343 jobs, wind power provided 111,166 jobs, and renewable fuels employed 106,709 people. While the solar industry saw a 3.2 percent decline in full-time positions due to tariffs and uncertain state policies, solar photovoltaic installers remain the fastest-growing occupation in the overall economy.
• Globally, the renewable energy sector employed 11 million people in 2018, an increase of 700,000 from 2017. Solar PV is the largest global employer in this sector with approximately 3,605,000 jobs, followed by biofuels (2,063,000) and hydropower (2,054,000).
• China is the global leader in renewable energy employment, with roughly 4,078,000 direct and indirect jobs. It leads the world in five sectors: solar PV, wind, solar heating and cooling, biogas, and CSP. Other major global employers include Brazil (1,125,000 jobs), the European Union (1,235,000 jobs), the United States (855,000 jobs), and India (719,000 jobs).
• Climate adaptation and resilience are emerging employment areas, though they lack comprehensive tracking codes in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Standard Occupation Classification system. Preliminary analysis by the American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP) indicates employment is primarily in government (40%), non-governmental organizations (36%), and the private sector (16%), with the fastest growth occurring in for-profit companies.
• The European Union is a significant player in renewable energy, supporting 1,200,000 jobs in 2017. It leads the world in solid biomass energy employment with approximately 387,000 jobs and supports 314,000 jobs in wind power. Germany has the largest renewable energy workforce in Europe with 284,800 jobs.

APA

Schneer, K., & McGinn, A. (2019). Jobs in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Resilience. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-jobs-in-renewable-energy-energy-efficiency-and-resilience-2019

Chicago

Schneer, Katie, and Anna McGinn. Jobs in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Resilience. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2019. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-jobs-in-renewable-energy-energy-efficiency-and-resilience-2019.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Schneer |first1=Katie |last2=McGinn |first2=Anna |title=Jobs in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Resilience |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=23 July 2019 |url=https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-jobs-in-renewable-energy-energy-efficiency-and-resilience-2019 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{schneer2019jobs, author = {Schneer, Katie and McGinn, Anna}, title = {{Jobs in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Resilience}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2019}, month = jul, url = {https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-jobs-in-renewable-energy-energy-efficiency-and-resilience-2019}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }