According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, renewable energy jobs occupy the top two spots for the fastest growing occupations from 2016 to 2026. Solar photovoltaic installers are expected to increase 105 percent and wind turbine service technicians are predicted to almost double. But Glassdoor has found solar job postings have stalled since 2016, calling into question the solar energy job boom. Let’s explore the driving forces.
The decreasing cost of solar energy in the last few years has given the industry a boost, but it’s also led to a volatile business atmosphere. Read: mergers, bankruptcies and layoffs. Recent research from MIT found that solar PV module costs have undergone the fastest cost decline of any energy technologies and they expect the trend to continue. Through 2012, research and development was the biggest contributor to declining costs, and since then it’s attributed to changes in module efficiency, materials prices and usage and capital expenses.
Decreasing cost means more accessibility and an increase in jobs – if regulations are cooperative. Some argue that regulations or the uncertainty of future regulations are holding solar energy hiring back. Political forces are at play and states have notable control over the renewable energy industry. There are forces like tax breaks, subsidies, grants and other incentives that put pressure on the solar energy market.
Set aside hesitation of hiring due to turbulence in the market or regulatory uncertainty, Glassdoor compiled a list of the top 20 most common solar energy jobs it’s seen posted:
- Solar Installer
- Sales Consultant
- Sales Representative
- Energy Consultant
- Electrician
- Sales Advisor
- Project Manager
- Service Associate
- Electrical Engineer
- Field Service Technician
- Maintenance Technician
- Retail Sales Consultant
- Outside Sales
- Construction Manager
- Project Engineer
- Superintendent
- Field Technician
- Foreman
- Slot Technician
- Software Engineer
The role types mostly fall into three categories: hands-on roles, sales roles and technology roles.
According to Glassdoor research, as of September last year, the top three companies hiring for solar energy jobs were: Sunrun, Inc.; ION Solar and Sunpower. Of the companies hiring for solar jobs, NRG Energy was paying the highest ($75,011 annually). While most solar energy jobs were in the energy and utilities industry, manufacturing and construction were also hiring a significant number of these professionals.
Only time will tell what will happen for renewable energy jobs in the next decade. But the trends point to a bright spot in the solar energy space.
