Renewable Energy Engineers

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 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.

For engineers, employment prospects are about average. Overall, 3 percent growth is expected for architecture and engineering occupations through 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Electrical engineers are predicted to see 3 percent growth in employment while mechanical and chemical engineers may enjoy growth of 4 percent. The BLS projects 2 percent growth for materials engineers. Industrial engineers have the best prospects, with growth of 10 percent expected through the end of the decade.

Many factors will determine future growth for renewable energy professions. The availability of cheap coal, natural gas, and oil can slow investment in renewable energy systems. New or improved technologies may spur growth of on type of renewable energy and shift resources there. Also, geopolitical trends and developments can affect government and corporate energy policies and access to resources, which may influence the industry. Federal and state regulations regarding the environment and use of fossil fuels will also influence future growth. As energy demands grow and technology improves, however, the demand for alternative sources of power seems set to increase steadily in coming years.