A new analysis by BW Research Partnership for E4TheFuture, Environmental Entrepreneurs, and the American Council on Renewable Energy found a sharp uptick in job losses in the clean energy sector in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April, clean energy job losses tripled those seen in March, for an estimated 447,200 new clean energy jobs lost. A total of 594,300 clean energy jobs have been lost since the beginning of the pandemic, representing a 17 percent drop in clean energy employment.
Notes BW Research: “Our previous projection of a half million or 15 percent of all clean energy jobs lost by the end of June has already been surpassed. Based on that analysis, along with forecasts from clean energy trade groups and reports from individual companies, we conservatively project that the clean energy sector will lose about a quarter of its workforce or 850,000 jobs by the end of the second quarter if no actions are taken to support the clean energy industry and its workers.”
Every clean energy sector has been impacted by job losses due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and energy efficiency has been hit especially hard. Yet, energy efficiency investments can play a critical role in economic stimulus and recovery, supporting job creation and retention, increased competitiveness, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved energy affordability and lower bills.
NASEO will continue to track energy sector employment impacts and monitor existing and proposed programs that can support a rebound.