According to a Department of Energy report, jobs in the renewable energy sector were far more resilient to the economic turmoil of the pandemic than those in the oil and gas industries.
In 2020, one in ten energy workers lost their job, but the wind energy sector grew by two percent, Jobs in the electric car sector grew by eight percent and those in the hybrid car sector grew by six percent. Meanwhile, the oil and gas workforce shrunk by 21 percent.
Looking beyond the pandemic, the renewable energy sector saw an average growth rate of three percent annually from 2015 to 2019, while the overall economy grew at a rate of just 1.5 percent.
This study demonstrates that although growth in the renewable sector has been high and stable over the last five years, this growth is resilient enough to withstand even a global pandemic. As we experience the harsh realities of climate change, these renewable jobs are more important than ever for transitioning to a green economy while supporting job transition for those in the fossil fuel industry.
Source study: DOE – US Energy & Employment Jobs Report
