- Clean energy jobs are more resilient than other energy sector jobs.
- Oil and gas workers were hit the hardest by the impacts of the pandemic.
- Wind energy saw jobs growth of 2%
According to an annual DOE report, employment in renewable energy and battery-related sectors was far more resilient to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic than other sectors. The report notes that 10 per cent of energy workers in the U.S. lost their jobs with oil and gas workers hit hardest despite the billions in bailouts.
In contrast, wind energy employment grew by nearly 2 per cent, while the electric and hybrid-electric vehicle sectors saw jobs growth of 8 per cent and 6 per cent respectively. The report also notes that the recent investments to modernize the nation’s electric grid, fuels infrastructure, buildings, and transportation, such as those in President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda and the infrastructure plan, will likely help recoup the job losses from 2020 and usher in positive growth rates in 2021.
DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm during the report release noted that while work is needed to make the energy sector more robust, a lot of work also has to be done to ensure that the energy sector is inclusive and that these new renewable energy jobs pay family-sustaining wages, with good benefits and union membership.