Why Jobs in Solar are Surging – Installation to Integration

This summer marks a record for solar energy production in the EU. Cheap to make and easy to install; solar panels are one of the most promising renewable energy sources available today. In June this year, solar energy made up 25% of the EU electricity (Spain 34% & Poland 24%), more than any other year in the peak month.  

Poland illustrates another record breaker, and a remarkable one at that given its heavy reliance on coal. For the first time this year, renewables made up more than fossil fuels in total production.  

Spain and Poland are just two leading parties in the EU bloc. Germany, France and Italy are also making the most of the sun, investing heavily in solar production (Germany converted a 500-hectare coal plant into a solar farm). Germany is also home to the balcony solar boom, where individuals are utilising small units to harvest energy from their rooftops and balconies. These small units offset electricity use in apartments, lowering their monthly bills. Lowering bills are also a story in Spain; while the rest of the world sees prices climb thanks to the strife in the Strait of Hormuz, Spaniards bills are dropping.  

In the US, solar is also enjoying widespread expansion. Solar manufacturing tells the story best, increasing its capacity by 700% since 2022. Currently the industry employs over 300,000 professionals. However, despite that number, there are pressing labour shortages in the US solar market with over 50,000 roles sitting empty and another 300,000 expected to meet 2034 installation targets. 

What opportunities are in the US and where are they?  

Most near-term opportunities in solar right now come at the short-term roles of electricians, installers and supervisors.  

'After a lot of project delays due to tax credits in 2025 the US solar market is now full steam ahead with long standing development pipelines now moving into construction, creating endless job opportunities within owners rep teams in the US solar industry.' - Edward Maunder, Senior Management Consultant 

This swell in US solar is due to the July 2026 deadline on tax credits imposed by the Big Beautiful Bill. Across the country – particularly in newer markets like Georgia, Texas, Louisianan, Ohio, Alabama, South Carolina, Indiana and Michigan – manufacturers have been racing to break ground. Now with so many projects started, there’s a pressing need for professionals to fill the empty roles.  

What opportunities are there in the EU?  

In Europe, the story is different to the US, with a strong focus on energy storage, grid integration, and hybrid engineering roles.  

Many European markets have the foundational infrastructure now, especially countries like Spain and Poland. However, so much production is being left on the table due to stressed grid systems and storage capacity.  

How can professionals gain access to these projects? 

Work with a trusted partner like Coalesce Management Consultancy with existing relationships to project sand hiring managers.  

At CMC we work closely and regularly with many of the biggest solar producers, whether they’re in Georgia or Germany. Partnering with us provides access to some of the world’s most exciting and well-paid solar projects. If you have the expertise to make a difference, we would love to hear from you.  

FAQs

With the US tax credit deadline passed, is it still worth pursuing solar manufacturing or installation work in 2026–2027? 
Yes, but the shape of demand is changing. The July 2026 construction-start deadline created a short-term hiring surge to finish qualifying projects, but the underlying fundamentals — a 53,000-worker shortage, 65 GW of domestic module capacity, and installer employment projected to grow 42% through 2034 — point to sustained demand beyond the credit cliff. The near-term opportunity is heavily weighted toward installation and site supervision; the multi-year opportunity is in manufacturing (especially cell/wafer production, which is still scaling up) and in operations & maintenance, which has been the fastest-growing segment as the installed base ages. 

Which US states and European countries currently offer the strongest job markets for solar professionals? 
In the US, California, Texas, Florida, New York and Massachusetts lead in total solar employment, while Nevada ranks first per capita — and states like Georgia, Texas, and Louisiana are seeing concentrated manufacturing job growth tied to new First Solar, Qcells and T1 Energy facilities. In Europe, Germany, Spain, Italy and Poland are adding the most capacity and have the deepest project pipelines, with Southern Europe (Italy, Spain) particularly active for utility-scale development and project finance roles as investors buy up de-risked, permitted assets. 

Is it more strategic to build a career in solar PV specifically, or pivot toward battery storage and hybrid systems? 
Storage and hybrid-systems expertise is increasingly the differentiator, especially in Europe. As grid congestion and negative electricity prices erode returns on standalone solar, developers are shifting toward solar-plus-storage and hybrid PPAs — meaning skills in battery energy storage systems (BESS), grid integration, and flexibility markets are becoming as valuable as traditional PV expertise. In the US, storage installations just posted their strongest first quarter on record, suggesting professionals who pair solar knowledge with storage/grid skills will have the broadest options on both continents.