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US DOE Reports Record Growth in EV Charging Infrastructure & Clean Energy Jobs
Clean-energy job growth rate is more than double the rest of the economy’s while the number of US public charging stations has doubled since 2021.
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Clean-energy job growth rate is more than double the rest of the US economy’s. Thirawatana Phaisalratana / iStock via Getty Images
Recent data from the Department of Energy (DOE) reveal substantial advancements in both electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and clean energy employment—both of which are important factors for a successful transition to electrification.
Doubling of public EV charging stations
DOE reports that since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, the number of publicly available EV chargers has doubled, reaching over 192,000. With approximately 1,000 new public chargers added weekly, this expansion supports a broad range of vehicles, from light-duty to heavy-duty trucks, along major highways and key corridors.
The administration has just announced the allocation of $521 million in grants to enhance the nation's EV charging infrastructure. This funding will deploy over 9,200 new charging ports across 29 states, two Federally Recognized Tribes, and the District of Columbia.
Electric vehicle charging station. Credit: Ollo/iStock via Getty Images
These efforts are supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. The funding is designed to fill critical gaps in charging infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas, aligning with the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy.
Record growth in clean energy jobs
Parallel to the expansion in EV infrastructure, the DOE’s 2024 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) highlights a historic increase in clean energy jobs. In 2023, clean energy employment surged by 142,000 positions, accounting for over half of the total new energy sector jobs. This growth rate of 4.2% in clean energy jobs notably outpaced the 2.0% increase observed in the overall U.S. economy, showcasing the sector’s dynamic expansion.
The report highlights several key areas driving this job growth:
Zero-emission vehicles: Employment in clean zero-emission vehicles grew by 11.4% in 2023, adding 24,826 jobs. Battery electric vehicle jobs, in particular, saw a dramatic increase of 17,064 positions, reflecting a 12.9% growth rate. This is contrasted with more modest growth in gas and diesel vehicles, which saw a 2% increase.
Battery manufacturing and EV charging: Battery manufacturing saw the addition of 2,800 new jobs, and EV charging infrastructure contributed 550 new positions. These sectors are crucial for supporting the broader adoption of clean energy technologies and are included in the transmission, distribution, and storage category.
Energy infrastructure: The energy construction sector added nearly 90,000 jobs, with a growth rate of 4.5%, nearly double the 2.3% increase in general construction employment. This includes 28,000 jobs related to building new battery and solar module factories, ports for offshore wind, and warehouses for clean energy products.
Sector-specific trends
The USEER provides a detailed look at various sectors within clean energy:
Battery electric vehicles: Employment in this area grew by 12.9%, adding 77,065 jobs, reflecting the sector’s rapid expansion compared to other vehicle categories.
Fuel cell vehicles: Jobs in fuel cell electric vehicles increased by 17.5%, with an additional 2,079 positions added.
Gas and diesel vehicles: While gas and diesel vehicle employment also rose, it did so at a slower rate of 2.0%, adding 39,305 jobs.
State-level job growth
The USEER data show that clean energy job growth is widespread, with increases reported in all 50 states and the District of Columbia:
Idaho saw the highest growth rate at 7.7%.
Texas followed with a 6.0% increase.
New Mexico experienced a 5.9% growth rate.
If we build it, will they come?
All of this is good news for the battery and EV industry: Concern about the availability of charging stations has been a drag on EV adoption for many drivers while adequately maintaining robust employment in the transition to EVs has been a concern for auto workers.
Now, the industry needs to figure out how to pick up the pace in selling more EVs and clean-energy vehicles.
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