Clean Jobs Midwest Report
In 2020, more than 55,300 Minnesotans worked in energy efficiency and clean energy, making the industry a major and promising part of the state’s economy. Despite the promising rebound in the second half of the year, at one point, more than 11,500 Minnesota clean energy workers had filed for unemployment. Even with setbacks, clean energy jobs rebounded quicker than the overall Minnesota workforce, according to the analysis.
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CLEAN ENERGY JOBS IN MN
A 10.5% loss in jobs in 2020 due to the pandemic.
JOB GROWTH
during the 2nd half of 2020 – twice as fast as overall state job growth!
JOBS IN GREATER MN
More than 1/3 clean energy jobs are located in Greater Minnesota.
JOB GROWTH PREDICTED IN 2022
Clean energy employers project 8% growth in the next year.
GROWTH IN WIND JOBS
Wind jobs, (a subsector of the renewable energy generation sector) continued to grow steadily throughout 2020.
SMALL BUSINESSES DRIVE THE SECTOR
71% of Minnesota’s clean energy businesses employed fewer than 20 people.
OF POTENTIAL NEW JOBS
Passing a 100% clean electricity standard in Minnesota will create thousands of new jobs.
GROWTH IN ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION
making this sector the fastest-growing last year.
WHAT DO PEOPLE WORKING IN CLEAN ENERGY DO?
How many people work in each sector?
Energy efficiency jobs continue to be the largest sector of clean energy employment in Minnesota comprising 3 out of every 4 clean energy jobs in the state.
Minnesota’s second-largest sector of clean energy jobs is renewable energy, which employs more than 7,600 workers. These jobs have historically been some of the fastest-growing; in fact solar installer is the fastest-growing job in Minnesota according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The future of clean energy jobs in MN
Despite setbacks, clean energy jobs rebounded quicker than the overall Minnesota workforce and show strong signs of a comeback in 2022 – with employers projecting an 8% growth rate in the next year. The advanced transportation sector saw the highest job growth rate at 2% over the last year. While the renewable energy generation sector overall lost jobs, the wind industry subsector maintained impressive growth at 8% in 2020. Policy leadership at the state and federal level continues to be critically important in growing clean energy jobs in the state.
Clean energy jobs are predicted to grow 8% in the next year – and grew 10% in the second half of 2020, twice as fast as overall state job growth.
Passing a 100% clean electricity standard in Minnesota will create thousands of new jobs.
“Nokomis Energy has been fortunate to continue to grow and add good paying jobs to our local economy. In the past year, we have increased our team by over 50% and we are always looking for motivated teammates who can help develop new clean energy opportunities to join us.”
Joe Stofega
Partner, Nokomis Energy
WHERE ARE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS LOCATED?
Jobs in clean energy are located in communities across the state. In fact, more than 1 in 3 clean energy jobs are located in Greater Minnesota, with 1 in 5 clean energy jobs located in rural communities.
Small businesses are the backbone of the industry, 71 percent of clean energy businesses have fewer than 20 employees.
The metro areas with the largest number of clean energy jobs are Minneapolis-St. Paul, St. Cloud, and Duluth. Take a look at this map to see where clean energy jobs are located by county, district, and metro area.
Find more jobs data
More than 1 in 3 clean energy jobs are located in Greater Minnesota.
Small businesses drive the state’s clean energy sector – in 2020, 71 percent of Minnesota’s clean energy businesses employed fewer than 20 people.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO KNOW ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY JOBS?
Clean energy jobs can also be categorized by the role they play in the value chain. Each value chain category captures jobs from multiple clean energy sectors. For example, construction jobs can include energy efficiency jobs and renewable energy jobs.
Just slightly behind North Dakota, Minnesota has the second largest percentage of clean energy jobs in construction within the Midwest region.
“The clean energy jobs data will inform our policy proposals to boost more good-paying clean energy jobs – from building energy efficiency, to clean transportation, as well as Minnesota’s community solar garden program.”
Gregg Mast
Executive Director, Clean Energy Economy MN
WHAT POLICIES CAN SUPPORT CLEAN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT?
Minnesota can also expand clean energy jobs by enacting state policies that support energy efficiency, renewable energy and electric vehicles. These policies can help create thousands of new jobs as the post-pandemic recovery kicks into gear.
Further, Minnesota can also remove arbitrary red tape in Minnesota’s nation-leading community solar program, strengthen building performance standards, fully fund the state’s Bioincentive Program and transition the state’s electricity sector to 100% clean energy by 2040.
The federal government can expand clean energy jobs with the following policies:
01.
Support infrastructure
Pass and fund legislation to create a national car-charging network, expand building efficiency improvements, and modernize our electric grid.
02.
Expand tax policy
Extend, expand, and improve accessibility of federal tax incentives for energy efficiency, wind, solar, energy storage, and zero-emission vehicles.
03.
Invest in innovation
Make federal Investments in clean energy, vehicle and battery storage, energy efficiency, and regenerative and low-carbon agriculture.
04.
Fund workforce training
Better fund existing programs and pass new programs to create new employment opportunities, improve equity, and meet the workforce requirements of a better, cleaner economy.
05.
Facilitate clean energy finance
Facilitate and leverage privately financed clean energy projects and improve equity.
LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY JOBS?
Connect with us on social media. Also, contact your legislator today to let them know that you support clean energy. The Minnesota Legislature makes it easy to identify who represents you in St. Paul. Click here to identify your legislators and contact them to let them know you support clean energy jobs in Minnesota.
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