The energy industry is a vital and thriving market in our national economy. But as a candidate, knowing the niches within the overall energy sector can be key to helping you find your next big opportunity. If you’re wondering which energy industry is really booming right now, you might be surprised. Clean energy and sustainability jobs are hiring now. So jump on the opportunity to join the industry creating jobs twelve times faster than the rest of the economy.
What You Should Know About the Clean Energy Market
Wind and solar jobs have been growing steadily for a few years now. With new technology comes new opportunities, and more corporations and utilities are bringing in renewables into their overall energy strategy. It’s clear by the numbers that sustainability jobs represent a large and growing portion of the U.S. workforce. That workforce crosses multiple sectors and disciplines as well. Jobs in this sector span energy efficiency and renewable energy markets, waste reduction and natural resource conservation, even environmental education. According to this report, sustainability now represents a collective 4.5 million jobs in the U.S. (a leap up from 3.4 million just a few years ago.)
Why the Growth?
Renewable energy now makes up 64% of new electricity generation capacity installed in the U.S. each year. That’s huge. Investments in workforce development have been central to the growth of the sustainable energy economy. Employers know that to succeed, they need a highly skilled workforce able to accomplish their technical goals. Corporations, philanthropic organizations, and non-profits are all growing at an accelerated rate in the rush to drive this transition toward a more sustainable economy in the United States. Interestingly enough, in an age when many jobs are being sent overseas to remote workforces, the renewable and energy efficiency jobs are protected because they are required to be done on-site.
It makes sense that solar jobs are centralized in regions with lots of sunshine, like California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Wind jobs are also pretty centralized based on geography but look to Texas, and Oklahoma for high-density markets. But all across the U.S., many of these jobs are in such high demand that they pay above average wages to ensure recruitment of the industry talent companies need to succeed. If you’re interested in seeing what opportunities are available to you, look into jobs in renewable energy, energy efficiency, transportation, the public sector, and even corporate sustainability.
Skills You Need
Depending on what exact niche you find yourself in, there are many technical skills required to succeed in renewable energy. Engineering backgrounds are often a benefit but don’t think that a bachelor’s degree will be enough to see you through the length of your career. There are a significant number of jobs that require a master’s or even a doctoral degree, and engineers are expected to continue their education to keep up with a rapidly changing industry. Technicians typically have an associate’s degree or certification for the type of work they do but remember that as new technology is released, new skills will be required.
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Are you looking for a new job in your energy career? Contact ESGI today to get started!
