Nearly 12% of the new jobs the U.S. solar energy gained in 2023 were based in Florida.
The country added 15,564 solar jobs last year to reach a total of 279,447 workers in that sector, according to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council's National Solar Jobs Census. That's the highest number of total workers ever recorded in the U.S. solar industry.
The Sunshine State ranked No. 2 nationwide for solar jobs, with a total of 14,108 workers. Florida added 1,841 new solar jobs in 2023.
In a statement, IREC President and CEO Larry Sherwood said there was a record number of Americans working in solar energy and battery storage last year.
“Federal policies like the Inflation Reduction Act are helping drive a historic level of clean energy deployment and job creation," he said.
Solar jobs increased in 47 states in 2023, with the biggest gains in Florida, Texas, Arizona and Nevada.
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The Solar Jobs Census defines a solar worker as someone who spends "the majority of their time on solar-related work." If employees that spend less than half of their time on solar are included, the number of U.S. solar workers rises to 364,544. If energy storage is included, there are 454,136 employees.
Solar employees typically work in installation and project development, manufacturing, wholesale trade and distribution, and operations and maintenance. In Florida, more than 9,000 people work in solar installation roles.
The Solar Jobs Census is based on a survey conducted by BW Research Partnership for the U.S. Department of Energy’s United States Energy and Employment Report 2024.
The industry expects solar panel installations will slow in 2024 after dramatic growth in 2023, the report said. Much of that slowdown could occur in residential solar, the most labor-intensive market segment.
Florida is home to clean energy jobs beyond the solar industry. In 2023, the state had 2,517 jobs in clean storage, 6,020 in wind energy, more than 16,000 in traditional and low-impact hydropower, and 125,000 energy efficiency roles.
One area where the solar sector is struggling is diversity, said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association. While the industry is recruiting Gen Z, veteran and union workers, only a quarter of surveyed firms said they had a strategy to employ more women and people of color.
"As demand for clean energy continues to grow, the industry must invest in workforce development strategies that support equitable growth and create new economic pathways for all Americans," Hopper said.
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