Installation is just one of the many living wage jobs that the solar industry is creating.
Work. One simple word that can make us jump for joy or bury ourselves under our comforter, refusing to get out of bed. For those of us lucky enough to work in the solar industry, we tend to rise and shine with the sun. And why wouldn’t we? We are a part of one of the fastest growing industries and our work helps people.
The solar industry now employs more than 142,000 people. That’s a 20% increase since 2013. In other words, the solar industry grew ten times faster than the U.S.’s total employment growth for 2013. The industry is expected to continue to grow by as much as 15.6% in 2014, according to the results in National Solar Job Census. While this news is something to cheer about, there’s a much bigger reason to “shout out for solar”. The solar industry isn’t just creating jobs; they’re creating living wage jobs.
The living wage jobs that are being created tend to pay more than their similar counterparts, which helps to boost the economy and build stronger communities. For example, the installation sector of the solar industry was the biggest winner in 2013 with more than 69,500 jobs created. Solar panel installers on average earn about $23.63 per hour. That rate provides a living wage for a family of four in many states including: New York, Texas, Florida and Georgia. Better paying jobs are a win-win for everyone.
In addition to creating jobs that pay well, many people don’t realize how many job opportunities there are for a variety of skilled workers. It takes a village to help homeowners get solar power. The sales teams are just the beginning of that process. There are teams of people who process all of the paperwork for the financing. Computer programmers and developers who create software to streamline the process. Project managers help guide the installation from permitting to checking the status of equipment inventory. Once your solar energy system has been installed, customer care and monitoring teams will be on the ready, should you have any problems with your new solar panels.
Thanks to primary drivers like declining cost of equipment and installation, innovative financing models and encouraging governmental policies, the job market will continue to look bright right on into 2014. If you’ve been thinking about making a career change then the solar industry may be something you want to look into. This rewarding field allows to you help people save money, which can be a great way to end your work day. OneRoof Energy is one of the many companies that are hiring. We encourage you to swing by our job board to see if your skills will fit with any of our open positions.
