Solar Foundation 2018 Data

• The United States has 242,343 solar workers, defined as those who spend 50% or more of their time on solar-related work. Solar employment declined by nearly 8,000 jobs, or 3.2 percent, since 2017. Overall, the solar workforce has grown 159 percent since the first Census was released in 2010, adding nearly 150,000 jobs.

• With a backlog of utility-scale projects and new policy incentives in key states, the outlook for solar jobs is expected to improve in 2019. Survey respondents predict that solar jobs will increase 7 percent in 2019, bringing the total to 259,400 jobs.
•  Illinois is ranked 13th in number of solar jobs nationwide, up from 20th in 2017
• 4,879 solar jobs in Illinois, a 37% increase from 2017

For additional information about the Illinois solar market, please visit the Solar Foundation.