Los Angeles, California (Sept. 16, 2019)— Energy efficiency is the fastest-growing segment of United States energy-sector employment, now employing more than 2.3 million Americans, according to a new analysis from E4TheFuture and the national, nonpartisan business group E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs). Energy efficiency workers now account for 28% of all U.S. energy jobs.

The new report, Energy Efficiency Jobs in America, finds energy efficiency jobs grew 3.4 percent in 2018 –more than double the rate of growth for overall jobs nationwide — with 7.8% growth projected for 2019. Among the states, California leads energy-efficiency employment with 318,500 jobs, followed by Texas (162,800), New York (123,300), Florida (118,400) and Illinois (89,400).

Thirteen states saw efficiency jobs increase by more than 5% in 2018, led by New Mexico (11.6%), Nevada (8.1%), Oklahoma (7.2%), Colorado (7.2%) and New Jersey (7.1%). Not a single state saw declines in energy efficiency employment in 2018.

The report, released at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) in Manhattan Beach, California, highlights energy efficiency’s continued economic importance.

Efficiency businesses added 76,000 net new jobs in 2018, accounting for half of all net jobs added by America’s energy sector (151,700). The sector also employed twice the number of workers in 2018 as all fossil fuel industries combined (1.18 million). There are now more than 360,000 energy efficiency businesses operating across the U.S.

Energy efficiency jobs include positions in manufacturing, efficient windows and doors and LED lighting systems. They include jobs in construction—retrofitting buildings, offices and schools to make them more efficient. Efficiency careers are found in high-tech design and software and professional services, as well as at the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) companies that upgrade outdated inefficient HVAC systems, boilers, ductwork and other equipment.

Energy efficiency jobs aren’t limited by geography, geology or political persuasion. There are workers in energy efficiency in every state and in virtually every U.S. county, the report shows. More than 317,000 energy efficiency jobs are located in rural areas, while 928,000 jobs are found in the nation’s top 25 metro areas. In 41 states and the District of Columbia, more Americans now work in energy efficiency than fossil fuels.

More detailed findings of energy efficiency jobs for all 50 states and the District of Columbia – including job totals for every congressional and legislative district, industry and technology breakdowns, and maps of every state’s top counties  are available at e2.org/eejobsamerica. 

Key Findings:

  • Ten percent of energy efficiency jobs are held by veterans—nearly double the national average of 6%.
  • Construction and manufacturing make up more than 70% of U.S. energy efficiency jobs.
  • More than one out of every six U.S. construction workers spend 50% or more of their time on energy efficiency (1.3 million workers).
  • A total of 321,000 energy efficiency jobs are in manufacturing.
  • More than 1.1 million energy efficiency jobs are in heating, ventilation and cooling technologies.
  • Efficient lighting technologies employ 370,000 workers. 
  • Energy efficiency employers are projecting 7.8% job growth in 2019. 
  • Small businesses are driving America’s energy efficiency job boom, with 79% of energy efficiency businesses employing fewer than 20 workers.
  • Seventeen states employ more than 50,000 workers, and 40 states are home to at least 10,000 energy efficiency workers.

Ahead of Energy Efficiency Day 2019 on October 2, E2 and E4TheFuture will host an online panel discussion on  Energy Efficiency Jobs in America 2019 featuring Keefe, Stanton, and the authors of the report from BW Research Partnership. 

“Energy Efficiency Jobs in America” follows E2’s Clean Jobs America analysis, which found that clean energy jobs account for nearly 3.3 million jobs across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Both reports expand on data from the 2019 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) produced by the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) in partnership with NASEO, using data collected and analyzed by BW Research Partnership. The report was released in March, and is available at usenergyjobs.org.

Additional Resources:
 

For more information, visit e4thefuture.org