Fuel Cell Technicians

In its 2024 United States Energy & Employment Report, the Department of Energy revealed that 400,000 clean energy jobs had been created since 2020, reflecting a growth rate of 12.8 percent. During the same timeframe, the rest of the energy sector achieved growth of 9.7 percent. In 2023 alone, clean energy-related employment increased at a rate of 4.9 percent, resulting in 149,000 additional jobs.

Employment for fuel cell technicians and related workers will grow as more businesses emerge that develop, manufacture, operate, and maintain fuel cells. There will also be opportunities for businesses that produce and deliver the hydrogen and other fuels that are used in fuel cells. There will also be employment opportunities in the stationary power generation segment of the industry.

According to a 2024 Global Market Insights analysis, the global fuel cell market was valued at $6.75 billion in 2023. Following robust compound annual growth of 10.9 percent, this figure was forecast to reach $16.7 billion by 2032. In North America, specifically, growth of 6.0 percent was expected during the same timeframe. From an application standpoint, 65.1 percent of revenues were attributable to transportation in 2023. By 2032, the stationary segment was expected to generate revenues of $3.8 billion, reflecting the use of fuel cells for commercial, industrial, and residential applications, either alone or in tandem with hybrid systems that combine fuel cells with other types of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power.

The future of fuel cells in vehicles is considered to be promising. Some of the major auto companies have begun to sell fuel cell electric vehicles, but industry experts believe it may take up to 10 more years for fuel cells in car production to become mainstream. The U.S. Department of Energy predicts that the growing incorporation of fuel cells in motor vehicles might create as many as 675,000 net new jobs between 2020 and 2050. Technicians with skills in the latest technologies, such as computer-aided design software, and previous work experience will have the best job prospects.