Solar Employment Dropped in 2018; Companies Bullish for 2019

Industry News / Industry Statistics

February 12, 2019

Solar Employment Dropped in 2018; Companies Bullish for 2019

For the second straight year, employment in the solar industry fell in 2018. The number of jobs at solar firms fell 3.2 percent last year, on top of a 3.8 percent decline in 2017.

Industry analysts attribute the declines to both the tariffs on imported solar panels and cells imposed by the Trump Administration in early 2018 and the long period of uncertainty about federal support for the solar industry.

California suffered the biggest drop, losing 9,500 jobs, followed by Massachusett, which lost 1,300 jobs.

Despite the overall decline, 29 states increased solar employment in 2018, led by Florida (up 1,700 jobs) and Illinois (up 1,300 jobs).

State legislation played a major role in those increases. In Illinois, the Future Energy Jobs Act increased the state’s renewable energy portfolio, and in Nevada, voters approved a measure to boost the state’s portfolio to 50 percent clean energy. In Florida, residential utility customers may now lease solar panels.

Looking ahead, solar employers are bullish, expecting a 7 percent increase in employment in 2019.

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