With a nine percent growth rate, Minnesota’s renewable generation’s job sector was the second-fastest growing sector across the Midwest. Workers who are employed in industries that generate power from wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal and low-impact hydro technologies are considered renewable generation workers. In fact, jobs in the solar sub-sector also had an impressive year – growing 9.7 percent to 4,873 workers.
Top 6 Takeaways from the 2022 Clean Jobs Midwest Report
2. Renewable generation jobs grew at a rate of nearly 9% last year.

3. Advanced transportation jobs grew by a whopping 23% last year!
Learn more about these workersAdvanced transportation in Minnesota was the Midwest’s fastest growing sector. Minnesotans employed in hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, natural gas vehicles and hydrogen and fuel-cell vehicles make up this sector, which now employs nearly 4,000 Minnesotans.
4. 85% of employers said it was difficult to hire in 2021.
One of the biggest ongoing challenges of the clean energy transition is training a new workforce to sustain the industry. There are many excellent programs across the state working on this issue. Some factors that are impacting energy efficiency and clean energy businesses in Minnesota are Minnesota’s historic low unemployment rate – which was 1.9% in August of this year. The labor force participation rate in Minnesota is 64% – this rate has dropped over the last years and as of January 2022, the state has about 100,000 fewer workers in the labor force than it did before the pandemic began. In addition to slowing population growth, a myriad of other factors are also influencing labor force participation, including child care availability, fear of COVID-19, long-term illness, and more retirements during the pandemic.

6. Our vision is for Minnesota to have 100,000 clean energy jobs by 2030.
Passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have created historic opportunities for clean energy investment. With this funding, Minnesota needs to target funds at developing the workforce to accomplish these ambitious clean energy goals. Minnesota agencies like the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Energy Transition Office are working on these plans now and need further investment. CEEM recognizes the vast market opportunity in clean energy as well as the workforce challenges. We are engaging with our member businesses and community partners to chart workforce development pathways.
Latest News
Clean energy conversations with Minnesota’s congressional offices
In the midst of the chaotic US House Speaker elections this fall – CEEM’s policy team visited Washington D.C. to meet with Minnesota Congressional staff. They also co-hosted a Minnesota…
November 2023
Join us for our 2024 Legislative preview to network with clean energy business and industry leaders and hear from key legislators and decision-makers about the upcoming legislative session.
On a mission to impress: All Energy Solar
Founding CEEM member, All Energy Solar, is on a mission to impress each and every customer they serve. CEEM was able to see this mission in action on a recent…