Report shows energy efficiency jobs are growing

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The Pennsylvania-based Building Performance Association is reporting that energy efficiency jobs are growing.  

According to the report, in 2024 Pennsylvania employed 76,289 people, a 4.63% increase from the year before—and the highest increase since 2018.  

Nationally, energy efficiency employed 2.4 million people, a 4% increase with nearly 100,000 jobs added during the same time period—and nearly doubling since 2021.  

While energy efficiency job growth was very strong at the national level, it was even stronger in Pennsylvania—4% compared to 4.63% respectively. 

Overall, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the country for energy efficiency jobs. 

“Energy efficiency is a job creation powerhouse that’s growing faster and larger than any other energy sector in the country,” said Steve Skodak, CEO of the Building Performance Association. “There are energy efficiency jobs in 99% of U.S. counties, including every county in Pennsylvania.” 

The top five metropolitan areas in Pennsylvania for energy efficiency jobs were: 

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington: 26,160 jobs 

Pittsburgh: 15,505 jobs 

Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton: 8,602 jobs 

Lancaster: 3,515 jobs 

Harrisburg-Carlisle: 3,236 jobs 

The Energy Efficiency Jobs in America report is an annual report that tracks energy efficiency employment nationally and across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, in the areas of manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance and repair, and delivery.  

The report showed that the nation’s energy efficiency economy employs nearly 2.4 million workers who design, manufacture, and install energy saving products and technologies across 50 states.  

Energy efficiency workers represent more than a quarter of the total energy workforce.  

From 2023 to 2024, energy efficiency grew faster and added more jobs than any other energy sector, creating nearly 100,000 new jobs and increasing its growth rate year over year—nearly doubling since 2021.  

It also said the median wage for energy efficiency employment is 20% higher than the U.S. median wage. 

Though fewer energy efficiency construction businesses reported finding hiring to be “very difficult,” dropping from 61.6% in 2022 to 48% in 2024, the overall picture remains clear: nearly 9 in 10 of surveyed companies still face hiring challenges. 

To help address workforce shortages and recruitment challenges, Pennsylvania has recently invested in contractor training through the state’s new Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) program, administered by BPA.