Employers expected strong 5% growth for advanced energy jobs in 2020 before COVID-19 health crisis hit

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 24, 2020 — Today, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) reported the latest employment data in a new fact sheet showing that Arizona had 69,000 people working in advanced energy in 2019. This represents more workers than those in Schools, Colleges & Training Programs (68,055) and double those in Agriculture & Mining (33,070). Nationwide, there were 3.6 million advanced energy workers.

Arizona’s advanced energy employment grew 3.5% last year, beating the state’s overall job growth of 2.8%. Employers expected a strong 5% increase in advanced energy jobs for 2020 when surveyed late last year before the COVID-19 health crisis hit.

The largest jobs segments were Energy Efficiency, with 44,800 jobs (65% of total advanced energy employment in the state), and Advanced Electricity Generation, employing 17,900 (26% of total), with growth led by wind (up 11%) and solar (up 6%). While Advanced Vehicles jobs declined 2.5% in 2019, to 3,100, this followed a stunning 21% increase in 2018.

“With 69,000 workers in Arizona, advanced energy is a growing segment of the state’s workforce and economy,” said J.R.Tolbert, Managing Director with AEE. “And there is much more to come given the recent commitment of APS to shift to more clean energy resources.”

In January, Arizona Public Service (APS) announced a goal to deliver 100% clean, carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050, aiming to reach 65% clean energy by 2030, with 45% coming from renewable energy sources. APS also plans to end all coal-based generation by 2031. To help meet these goals and transportation electrification, AEE and 15 members worked with APS to identify 10 solution opportunities.

“As APS and the state’s other utilities work toward a cleaner electric grid, advanced energy is poised to drive economic recovery as we move past the COVID-19 health crisis,” said Tolbert.

Key 2019 Arizona employment data summarized in a fact sheet include:  

• Energy efficiency led with more than 44,800 jobs, 65% of total advanced energy employment in the state and growing 3% overall last year.

• Advanced electricity generation supports 17,900 jobs, or 26% of total, with growth led by wind (up 11%) increasing to 1,000 workers and solar (up 6%) to 9,800 employed.

• Advanced vehicles employs 3,100 workers (4% of total), down 2.5% in 2019 following a 21% increase in 2018.

• Advanced grid & storage employs 2,300 workers, with employment up 9% overall led by microgrid (up 17%) and other grid modernization jobs (up 13%); smart grid jobs increased 7% and energy storage employment was up 6%.

• Top 5 counties were: Maricopa (51,700); Pima (10,200); Yavapai (1,300); Yuma (1,200); and Mohave (970).
  

• Strong 5% job growth was expected for 2020 when employers were surveyed in late 2019.

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. Engaged at the federal level and in more than a dozen states around the country, including Arizona, AEE represents more than 100 companies in the $238 billion U.S. advanced energy industry, which employs 3.6 million U.S. workers. Learn more at www.aee.net, track the latest news @AEEnet.