E2 says the US lost 36,949 clean energy jobs in 2025, reversing years of annual job growth
Energy efficiency, renewable generation and clean vehicles recorded the biggest job losses, while storage and grid jobs grew by 5,346
As an impact of the OBBBA, companies canceled or scaled back 142 clean energy projects, putting 84,400 planned jobs at risk
Even as clean energy remained the largest employment sector in the US energy industry in 2025, accounting for more than 3.5 million of the sector’s 8.4 million workers, E2 reported that the sector lost nearly 37,000 jobs during the year.
According to E2’s analysis of US Department of Energy (DOE) data, solar, wind, energy efficiency, clean vehicles and other clean energy sectors went from adding about 100,000 jobs annually in recent years to recording a loss of 36,949 jobs in 2025. This represents nearly 40% of all new jobs created in 2024 (see US Clean Energy Jobs Expanded In 2024; Growth Expected To Slow).
Analysts point out that this was the first time since the pandemic that companies cut jobs in solar, wind, energy efficiency and other clean energy sectors.
Analysts said the decline came in the first year of the Trump administration’s policy actions affecting the clean energy sector.
E2 says the clean energy job loss last year was impacted by the July 2025 passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) under which the administration rolled back tax incentives and programs for clean energy manufacturing, generation and job creation (see US Clean Energy Cancellations Cost $68B In Investments).
Michael Timberlake, E2 Director of Research, said, “America’s clean energy jobs boom didn’t just slow in 2025—it went into reverse. After four consecutive years of strong growth, the industry lost nearly 37,000 jobs—its first decline since the pandemic.”
The largest job loss in the clean energy space last year was visible in clean vehicles with 9,619 jobs lost while renewable generation segment lost 11,584 jobs, and energy efficiency 21,443.
Storage and grid, on the other hand, reported 3.2% growth over the year with the addition of 5,346 jobs.
Clean energy job loss was seen in 35 states, with California leading with almost 21,000 job cuts, followed by Illinois, and Maryland. Florida led the states gained 3,800 positions.
The job losses followed a sharp decline in clean energy project activity tracked by E2 in 2025. Companies canceled or scaled back 142 manufacturing, generation and storage projects, representing $57.8 billion in lost investment and 84,400 expected jobs. Including these canceled positions, total existing and planned job losses exceeded 120,000 in 2025.
On the other hand, oil and gas companies employ 958,000 workers, coal companies 125,000 and nuclear 70,000, according to the analysis.
