The solar industry employs more than 100,000 people and that number is growing. According to the 2011 National Solar Jobs Census, released in October by the Solar Foundation, a research and education nonprofit working to advance solar energy, there are currently 100,237 “solar workers,” defined as those who work at least 50 percent on solar activities in manufacturing, sales and distribution, installation, and utilities employed at 17,189 solar establishments. This represents growth of 6.8 percent since August 2010.  Over the same period, the overall growth rate for jobs in the US economy was 1.4 percent.

The solar workforce is highly skilled and geographically diverse. And, most importantly, it is local. Solar installation jobs, as well as many of the other jobs that support solar installations, need to be where the solar systems are being installed. Providing support for the solar industry can help promote job creation and provide a positive boost for the overall economy.

Solar installers are the largest segment of the solar workforce. Based on the 2011 data, there are over 10,000 firms that derive at least some of their employment from solar installation and these firms employ over 52,000 workers, or 52.4 percent of the total solar workforce.  In the last year, the solar installation workforce grew by over 5 percent in the last year and this positive growth trend is only expected to accelerate in 2012. 

After installations, manufacturing makes up the next largest segment of the solar workforce. There are just over 1,200 companies providing employment for 24,000 solar workers. Solar manufacturers expect a growth rate of 14.4 percent over the next 12 months, which compares to an expected decline of 2.6 percent in the US manufacturing industry as a whole.

Solar sales and distribution, which currently employs nearly 18,000 workers, is the fastest growing subsector of the solar workforces. The sector grew nearly 14 percent between 2010 and 2011 and is expected to grow 35 percent between 2011 and 2012.

While the solar workforce is growing rapidly and this growth is expected to continue in 2012, some challenges remain. Many installers report difficultly finding qualified job applicants (despite an abundance of job applicants), indicating a need for workforce development training programs and industry certifications.  Manufacturers and sales and distribution employers also report difficulty finding qualified employees with knowledge of the solar field.

In order for this positive solar job growth scenario to continue, it is important that solar incentives be stable and consistent and that there is investment in developing a skilled clean energy workforce. This will lead to growth not only in installation, manufacturing, and sales and distribution, but also in related and support fields not counted in the 2011 Solar Jobs Census as part of the solar workforce, including academia, nonprofit, government, accounting, research and development, and law. 

There are several key areas where local governments can take action to remove barriers to solar adoption. Local governments can help facilitate the solar market by streamlining solar permitting processes, revising planning and zoning codes, and supporting local-level financing options.

To learn more about the Solar Foundation or read the full report, click here or listen to this podcast with Andrea Luecke, the executive director of the Solar Foundation.

To learn more about what local governments can do to encourage solar adoption, click here.