National nonpartisan business group E2 has released its annual “Clean Jobs America” report that shows the U.S. clean energy workforce lost 37,000 jobs last year. It is the first annual job loss in the U.S. clean economy since the pandemic, ending four consecutive years of strong growth.
E2 reviewed U.S. Dept. of Energy data, finding significant losses during President Trump’s second term after the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that rolled back clean energy tax incentives and federal support.
The 37,000-job-loss wiped out nearly 40% of all new clean energy jobs created the year before. All big sectors of the clean economy saw job losses, although energy storage and biofuels posted slight increases in new jobs. Renewable generation saw a 2% decrease with 11,500 job losses.
“These numbers paint a clear picture of what is happening after a year of project cancelations and federal policy attacks. When federal leaders play politics, American workers and our economy pay the price,” said Bob Keefe, executive director of E2.
The entire energy sector saw job losses, according to Dept. of Energy data. Clean energy jobs accounted for roughly 43% of all energy sector job losses.
Clean energy remains the largest part of America’s energy industry, E2 finds. With more than 3.5 million workers, clean energy still represents the biggest part of America’s energy workforce by far. By comparison, oil and gas companies employ 958,000 workers; coal companies employ 125,000; and nuclear companies employ 70,000.
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