Report Shows 714,000 Work in Clean Energy in the Midwest
What are clean energy jobs, who works in this sector, and where are they located? These are a few of the questions that the Clean Jobs Midwest report seeks to answer. Today, Clean Energy Trust and Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) released the third annual Clean Jobs Midwest report. The report is a comprehensive analysis of clean energy jobs in the 12-state Midwest region — and reveals that clean energy is a massive employer in the region.
The Clean Jobs Midwest report highlights the Midwest’s growing importance in America’s transition to renewable energy — adding nearly 4,000 new jobs in renewable energy like wind turbine technicians in a year when total U.S. renewable energy jobs remained stagnant due to declines in other regions.
As Clean Energy Trust’s CEO Erik Birkerts shared, “The beauty of data is that it cuts through political rhetoric. These findings show that clean energy jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency are growing across the region and that the Midwest continues to demonstrate it is a fertile region for clean energy innovation, enabling businesses to launch, grow, and create jobs. Everyone should embrace and support these sectors that are driving economic development.”
A few key highlights:
- Clean Energy is a big sector in the Midwest with over 710,000 jobs, though is facing policy and macroeconomic challenges
- Clean Energy Jobs saw gains in energy efficiency and renewable energy in the Midwest, adding over 3,900 jobs in renewable energy even as the entire rest of the country lost over 3,800.
- 3 Midwest states (Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio) are in the top 10 states in the nation for clean energy jobs, each with over 100,000
- Energy efficiency is the largest clean energy sector with nearly 514,000 jobs.
- Employers project 4.5% clean energy job growth in 2018
- Small businesses are driving the region’s clean energy sectors, with 71.4% of clean energy businesses employing fewer than 20 individuals.
- Clean energy jobs are all-American, blue-collar jobs with 7 in 10 clean energy jobs in construction and manufacturing.
Clean Jobs Midwest provides unique, powerful geographical job data at the county, state legislative districts, congressional districts, and metropolitan statistical areas. Check out the interactive map here. In addition to detailed employment information, Clean Jobs Midwest also shares the stories of individuals who work in the clean energy industry. Click here to read their stories
Bottom Line: The clean energy sector is an important employer in the Midwest. While overall clean energy jobs saw some declines, across the Midwest, renewable energy jobs and energy efficiency jobs are growing, despite policy headwinds. At the same time, we know even more jobs can be created with the help of smart clean energy policy.
Please help us spread the word with your friends, neighbors, colleagues, and elected officials using #CleanJobsMidwest.
Hats off to all the clean energy workers!
