STATE SOLAR JOBS CENSUS 2015

The Solar Jobs Census series is a product of The Solar Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase understanding of solar energy through strategic
research that educates the public and transforms markets. The most recent installment of the National
Solar Jobs Census found that the U.S. solar industry currently employs 208,859 workers, a figure which
represents 20.2% growth in employment over the previous year. This growth rate makes 2015 the third
consecutive year in which employment increased by 20% or more. Since TSF first began tracking solar
employment in 2010, the industry has grown by 123%, resulting in nearly 115,000 new, well-paying, domestic
jobs. In 2012, TSF began estimating solar employment in each of the 50 states, and introduced stand-alone
Census reports for select states the following two years. This factsheet summarizes the results from the 2015
State Solar Jobs Census effort.

State of the States

A Deeper Dive

Solar jobs continue to grow across the country,

almost 12 times faster than the overall economy
since 2014, and most states continue to see robust
solar development. Thirty-three states (including
the District of Columbia) saw positive growth over
the past year. While this growth was observed in
all regions of the country, solar employment is
more concentrated today, with the Top-2 solar
states accounting for over 50% of the employment
growth since 2014.

Since 2013, TSF has produced stand-alone state

reports. In 2014, TSF included district-level data for 3
states California, Arizona, and Minnesota and in
2014, TSF produced full reports for 6 states
California, Arizona, Texas, New York, Georgia and
Maryland. This year, TSF produced 14 stand-alone
Solar Jobs Census reports (for AZ, CA, CO, FL, MA, MI,
MN, NC, NJ, NM, NY, TX, UT, and VT) and a 51-state
Compendium report, which includes Census data
for all 50 states and features regional summaries
for each of the nine divisions. Finally, TSF has
produced MSA, county, and federal and state
Congressional district data for all 50 states.

As in previous years, California continues to lead in

both solar employment and installed solar
capacity. Of the 75,598 solar workers in the state,
60% are employed in the installation sector. By the
end of 2016, California is expected to account for
over 90,000 solar workers.
Massachusetts retained its position as the secondlargest solar employer in the U.S. and passed the
15,000 solar workers benchmark. Colorado edged
out Ohio to move into the top-10 in total solar jobs.
Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Nebraska were
the top-3 in solar job growth since 2014.
Utahs solar workforce grew an estimated 76.8%,
propelling the state 8 places in the solar states
rankings from #27 into the top-20.

Key Data from the State Census reports

Highest % Solar Jobs Growth:
1. Rhode Island, 2. South Carolina, 3. Nebraska,
4. Tennessee, 5. Louisiana.
Most Solar Jobs Per Capita:
1. Nevada 2. Massachusetts, 3. Vermont, 4. Hawaii,
5.. California
Highest % Solar Capacity Growth 2014-15 (estimated):
1. South Carolina, 2. Utah, 3. Georgia, 4. Oregon,
5. New Hampshire.

Visit SolarStates.org for our 51-state Compendium report & 14 stand-alone state reports,
including solar jobs data at the metro, county, and district levels; and check out
TSFcensus.org for our National Solar Jobs Census 2015.

States Gaining Ground

In addition to California and Massachusetts: Nevada,
Florida, Maryland, Tennessee, Oregon, Michigan, and
Utah are among the top 20 solar jobs states that grew
by 30% or more. Since The Solar Foundation began
estimating state-level solar employment in 2012,
nearly half the states in the nation have doubled (or
more) the size of their solar workforce. Thirty-three
states (including the District of Columbia) saw
positive growth over 2014.
The 2015 Census reports also show parallel growth in
the total amount of installed capacity.
SolarStates.org

Top Twenty Solar Jobs States - 2015

State

Solar Workers
2015

Solar Workers
2014

Rank
2015 (2014)

Jobs per Capita

Rank 2015

Jobs per Capita

Rank 2014

CA

75,598

54,690

MA

15,095

9,400

NV

8,764

5,900

3 (7)

NY

8,250

7,300

21

21

NJ

7,071

7,200

12

TX

7,030

7,000

34

36

AZ

6,922

9,170

7 (3)

FL

6,560

4,800

8 (9)

28

NC

5,950

5,600

9 (8)

15

CO

4,998

4,200

10 (11)

OH

4,811

4,300

11 (10)

22

MD

4,269

3,000

12 (13)

14

TN

3,798

2,200

13 (18)

16

IL

3,483

3,800

14 (12)

33

GA

3,185

2,900

15 (14)

30

OR

2,999

2,100

16 (20)

13

HI

2,814

2,200

17 (18)

MI

2,779

2,100

18 (20)

32

UT

2,679

1,500

19 (27)

10

PA

2,498

2,800

20 (15)

40

6
38
11
8
22
14
25
33
32
12
2
43
23
40

View statistics for all 50 states in our interactive map: www.SolarStates.org

2014 estimates of solar employment for all states except AZ, CA, GA, MD, NY, and TX were produced using a carefully developed dual
methodology. It is important to note that while the 2014 and 2015 methodologies differ, the results derived from the Census 2015 approach are
statistically significant and, therefore, more credible.

THE SOLAR FOUNDATION

600 14th Street, NW, Ste.400

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 469-3750

www.TheSolarFoundation.org