In the United States, it has recently been revealed that there are now twice as many people employed by the solar industry than the coal industry.
‘The Solar Foundation’ have been tracking the growth of the solar industry since it first began growing 7 years ago in 2010, and recently released a survey that showed that employment has nearly tripled within the industry since. The study further explained that with 260,000 people employed by the solar industry, the majority of work is found in installation positions; the biggest market in particular being residential installation. Residential installation is responsible for an overwhelming 41% of jobs within the solar industry. There are huge finical benefits too, with workers earning an average of $25.96 per hour, which equates to £21.63 per hour in the United Kingdom.
As the industry increases at a rapid pace, it is expected that more and more jobs will be created. And having quickly established itself as a dominant energy source, the need to create many varying types of jobs within the solar industry is inevitable. Furthermore, the expansion will also make current workplace efforts less expensive due to lowered solar energy costs – a win win!