More Workers in Florida Advanced Energy than in Real Estate, Double Those in Department Stores — With 9% Growth Expected in 2018
Advanced energy roadmap shows six policy areas to expanded use of secure, clean, and affordable energy resources, while growing the state’s economy and its 160,000 advanced energy jobs
TALLAHASSEE, September 12, 2018 — Today, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) released a fact sheet showing that Florida has 160,100 people working in advanced energy across the state. This represents more workers than those in Real Estate Sales, Leasing & Management (138,633), and more than double those working in Department Stores (77,741) across the state. The U.S. has a total of 3.4 million working in advanced energy jobs across the nation.
“Far too often, Florida’s economy is associated with tourism and beach dwellers. But following consistent growth, the advanced energy industry in Florida is open for business, “ said Ray Fakhoury, State Policy Manager, Advanced Energy Economy. “With more than 160,000 advanced energy workers, the next governor has an opportunity to capitalize on the state’s regional competitiveness to create even more jobs by continuing to invest in clean, secure, and affordable energy.”
Key Florida jobs employment details:
- Energy efficiency led the segment with more than 112,000 jobs.
- Strong 9% jobs growth in state expected by companies.
- Top 5 counties are: Miami-Dade (19,100), Broward (14,900), Hillsborough (14,400), Orange (13,800) and Palm Beach (13,700).
AEE members have also engaged with leading gubernatorial campaigns and have highlighted six key policies in a Florida advanced energy policy roadmap delivered to campaigns earlier this week. Specific policies address ways to:
- Improve access to advanced energy resources, like solar energy, to keep Florida competitive in attracting corporate operations
- Expand investments in electric transportation infrastructure
- Revitalize utility-funded energy efficiency programs
- Align utility incentives for investment in energy efficiency
- Harness the economic benefits of energy storage and other technologies to strengthen the grid
- Modernize the energy regulatory framework to focus on consumer needs
The employment figures were derived from analysis by AEE and BW Research Associates of data from the 2018 U.S. Energy and Employment Report published by the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) earlier this year, as well as data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About Advanced Energy Economy
Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is a national association of businesses that are making the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable. Advanced energy encompasses a broad range of products and services that constitute the best available technologies for meeting energy needs today and tomorrow. AEE’s mission is to transform public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy businesses. AEE and its State and Regional Partner organizations are active in 27 states across the country, representing more than 1,000 companies and organizations in the advanced energy industry, which now employs 3.4 million U.S. workers. Visit AEE online at www.aee.net and follow the latest industry news @AEEnet.
Media Contacts
Monique Hanis, mhanis@aee.net, 202-391-0884
Ray Fakhoury, rfakhoury@aee.net, 909-354-1810