When it comes to employment opportunities in the solar industry, the outlook is bright. After The Solar Foundation revealed in their National Solar Jobs Census that more than 140,000 workers were hired in 2013, industry experts have predicted that job opportunities may continue to increase throughout 2014.
The state that saw the highest number of solar-powered occupations was California, where nearly 48,000 workers are employed and 10,500 positions were created last year, according to The Solar Foundation. California led solar jobs in all three categories, including installation, manufacturing, and sales and distribution. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that jobs in the state are expected to exceed 50,000 in the coming months, as newly released data from The Solar Foundation said state employers plan to hire even more workers. The report notes that with the installation of new concentrated solar-power plants, as well as the projects set forth by the California Solar Initiative, the state will be in need of people to operate machinery and delegate tasks.
Based on surveys conducted of current workers and employees in the solar-power sector, the organization predicts an additional 10,500 jobs will be created in 2014. This would be a 22 percent increase in hiring, outpacing the country’s average of 15 percent.