Prospects are bright for green-industry jobs. The International Renewable Energy Agency reported that more than 667,000 people worked in this field in the United States, with a total workforce of more than 11 million around the world as of 2018. Its Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Report 2019 indicated that the biofuel sector accounted for 311,000 jobs, followed by solar (242,000), and wind (114,000).
According to the U.S. Energy and Employment Report, approximately 896,800 people were employed in the electric power generation sector overall in 2019. Employment had increased about 2.5 percent over the previous year, resulting in the addition of approximately 21,200 jobs. The report indicated that wind and solar power were among the fastest-growing categories. Employment in the wind power sector increased 3.2 percent, adding 3,600 jobs, while solar increased 2.3 percent, adding 5,700 jobs. The fast growth of solar and wind industries can be attributed to lower production costs. Better technology and equipment have lowered the cost of wind- and solar-generated electricity. This almost matches the cost of electricity generated by conventional methods such as coal or nuclear.
The U.S. Energy and Employment Report indicated that while overall energy industry employment was projected to grow 3.1 percent in 2020, growth would vary among various sectors. For example, the strongest growth was expected in the electric power generation category, where employment was expected to rise 4.8 percent. Growth of about 3.5 percent was expected in the transmission, distribution, and storage sector, followed by 3.0 percent for both energy efficiency- and motor vehicles-related jobs. The fuels category would experience the smallest growth, at just 1.7 percent. It's important to note that these projections were made prior to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which disrupted virtually every industry in some way, resulting in furloughs and unemployment, as well as project delays and cancellations.
Although the ultimate impact of the pandemic on employment remained to be seen in late 2020, the demand for reliable, clean energy remained. The U.S. Energy and Employment Report indicated that a lack of qualified workers was a challenge for the industry. "Hiring difficulty was highlighted by virtually all sectors as a growing problem," the report noted. "Just over 84 percent of employers across these sectors (84.4 percent) reported difficulty hiring qualified workers over the last 12 months, an increase of over 7 percentage points from 2018 and a total of 14 percentage points since 2017. Almost three-in-ten employers (29 percent) noted it was very difficult (no change from 2018)." This suggests that workers with the right skill sets should find good opportunities in the coming years.
Hydropower is a leading renewable energy resource because of its abundance and ability to produce electricity inexpensively without harmful emissions. However, some dams and other water reservoirs have been found to harm fish and wildlife located in or near the project site. The industry has responded to such claims by hiring specialists to protect vegetation and wildlife affected by hydropower projects. Two factors may limit growth in the hydropower industry. First, most potential sites for hydropower projects have already been utilized. Second, the licensing process for hydropower projects is slow and inefficient. License requests must be reviewed and approved by federal and state agencies, which often have a conflict in goals and regulations, making it difficult to obtain a license.
Improved technological advances, such as more powerful drilling tools, have helped the geothermal energy industry grow in the past few years. Employment opportunities are greatest in the West (especially in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah) for the direct use, or drilling, of geothermal energy, and in the Midwest for geothermal heat pumps. However, with advances in technology, employment opportunities will be plentiful throughout the United States. Long delays in obtaining geothermal land leases from the government could hinder the growth of this industry.
Bioenergy is also experiencing steady growth. Interest in bioenergy will not only stem from its electricity potential, but also the biofuels converted from biomass such as ethanol biobutanal, and biodiesel. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated that approximately 17,000 jobs are created for every million gallons of ethanol, an important biomass byproduct, produced. Employment opportunities will exist for chemists, engineers, and other agricultural scientists.
Public interest in renewable energy has grown in the last decade. Research has brought better technology, lowered generating costs, and even developed other uses for renewable energy. However, there are still many barriers that hinder this industry's growth potential: lack of infrastructure to transport renewable energy reliably, competition for local distribution, and lack of government funding for additional research and projects. Increased domestic production of nonrenewable energy resources like natural gas and crude oil also may limit employment growth in the renewable energy industry.
- Agricultural Scientists
- Air Quality Engineers
- Aquarists
- Arborists
- Biochemists
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biologists
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Botanists
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Chief Sustainability Officers
- Civil Engineers
- Climate Scientists
- Coal Miners
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- CRISPR Scientists
- Divers and Diving Technicians
- Drug Developers
- Ecologists
- Electricians
- Energy Brokers
- Energy Conservation Technicians
- Energy Consultants
- Energy Efficiency Engineers
- Energy Transmission and Distribution Workers
- Engineers
- Environmental Economists
- Environmental Education Program Directors
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmental Lawyers
- Environmental Lobbyists
- Environmental Planners
- Environmental Restoration Planners
- Environmental Scientists
- Environmental Technicians
- EPA Special Agents
- Epigenetics Researchers
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Food Technologists
- Forensic Experts
- Forensic Meteorologists
- Foresters
- Forestry Technicians
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Fuel Cell Technicians
- Fuel Cell Technology Workers
- Futurists
- Genetic Engineers
- Genetic Scientists
- Geodetic Surveyors
- Geological Technicians
- Geologists
- Geophysicists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Geothermal Energy Industry Workers
- Geothermal Production Managers
- Geothermal Technicians
- Green Builders
- Green Hotel/Resort Ecomanagers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Green Transportation Careers
- Groundwater Professionals
- Hazardous Waste Management Specialists
- Hazardous Waste Management Technicians
- Horticultural Inspectors
- Horticultural Technicians
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
- Hydroelectric Production Managers
- Hydropower and Marine Energy Industry Workers
- Indoor Environmental Health Specialists
- Industrial Ecologists
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Laboratory Technicians and Technologists
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Land Acquisition Professionals
- Land Trust or Preserve Managers
- Landmen
- Landscape Architects
- Line Installers and Cable Splicers
- Marine Biologists
- Materials Engineers
- Meter Readers, Utilities
- Methane/Landfill Gas Collection System Operators
- Methane/Landfill Gas Generation System Technicians
- Microbiologists
- Mining Engineers
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- National Park Service Employees
- Naturalists
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Nuclear Engineers
- Nuclear Reactor Operators and Technicians
- Oceanographers
- Park Rangers
- Petroleum Engineers
- Petroleum Technicians
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Plumbers and Pipefitters
- Power Plant Workers
- Radiation Protection Technicians
- Range Managers
- Recycling and Reclamation Workers
- Recycling Coordinators
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Renewable Energy Site Assessors
- Rewilders
- Roustabouts
- Soil Conservationists and Technicians
- Soil Scientists
- Solar Energy Industry Workers
- Solar Energy Installation Managers
- Solar Energy Sales Representatives
- Solar Engineers
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Surveyors
- Telephone and PBX Installers and Repairers
- Toxicologists
- Traffic Engineers
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Technicians
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Wind Energy Engineers
- Wind Energy Industry Workers
- Wind Energy Operations Managers
- Wind Energy Project Managers
- Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors
- Zoologists