National study shows more than 3.5 million clean jobs available in 2013, with a 57% increase in solar jobs.
Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index, a tool to compare states’ use and development of clean and sustainable energy, found more than 3.5 million job postings in the clean energy sector last year. This is a 19% increase from 2012. The Clean Jobs Index classifies clean energy jobs based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics description, which says that a clean job is part of a business that benefits the environment or conserves natural resources.
Ecotech Institute, the only college entirely focused on renewable energy and sustainability training, created the Clean Jobs Index to provide objective job information about the renewable energy industry. The Index also looks at various sustainability factors such as alternative fueling stations, LEED projects and total energy consumption across the U.S.
Highlights from the Clean Jobs Index 2013
Number of U.S. Clean Jobs Postings in 2013:
3,599,022 (a 19% increase from 2012)
Large Growth in Clean Jobs (compared to 2012 clean jobs postings):
Solar Jobs – up 57%
Wind Jobs – up 20%
Renewable Energy Jobs – up 9.3%
Clean Jobs by Population (Jobs per 100,000 residents):
- North Dakota – 2,554
- Iowa – 1,811
- Massachusetts – 1,768
- Delaware – 1,700
- Alaska – 1,644
- Minnesota – 1,557
- Maine – 1,549
- Nebraska – 1,510
- Washington – 1,461
- Kansas – 1,456
Clean Jobs by State:
- California – 276,493
- Texas – 268,349
- New York – 190,964
- Illinois – 168,998
- Michigan – 143,319
- Ohio – 129,447
- Pennsylvania – 126,012
- Massachusetts – 115,748
- Florida – 115,066
- Washington – 98,252
States With the Most Incentives for Sustainability and Renewables (in no particular order):
- Minnesota
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- Texas
- Indiana
- Colorado
- Florida
- New York
- Iowa
“Renewable energy is the future and this data proves that more than ever,” said Kyle Crider, Ecotech Institute’s Program Chair and Manager of Environmental Operations. “With solar jobs up 54% and clean tech jobs up overall nearly 20$, it’s definitely an exciting time in the sustainable energy industry.”
Ecotech Institute: clean jobs infographic.
Ecotech Institute’s Clean Jobs Index is an aggregation of statistics by state. Although it may indicate a greater possibility for employment in the clean economy sector, the Clean Jobs Index in no way indicates the presence or the promise of any specific job opportunities. Data for the Index is gathered regularly from independent research entities including: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Green Building Council.
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