Clean energy isn’t just transforming the way the country generates and consumers power. It’s also creating jobs.

In fact, jobs in the clean energy sector are growing at rate that is faster than the energy sector overall as well as the larger U.S. economy, according to new data.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released its 2024 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER), a study that tracks employment trends in the energy sector. The study is based on a customized energy employer survey combined with data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It produces estimates of national, state and county-level energy jobs, by industry, technology and region.

The study found that clean energy employment increased by 142,000 jobs in 2023. That’s a 4.2% annual increase, which is more than twice as much as the 2% job growth rate for the broader economy.

Clean energy was also the leader in job growth for the energy sector overall, accounting for more than half of total jobs created. The energy industry added more than 250,000 jobs in 2023. Clean energy’s 142,000 jobs accounted for 56% of that total.

The study found that clean energy job growth was widespread, with positive trends in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Idaho led the charge with a 7.7% increase in clean energy jobs. It was followed by Texas at 6% and New Mexico at 5.9%.

Looking at particular clean energy sectors, those experiencing significant growth include zero-emission vehicles and renewable energy, as well as transmission, distribution and storage.

The study found that jobs in the solar and wind sectors grew by 5.3% and 4.5%, respectively.

Clean energy manufacturing and supply chain jobs were also affected. The report found an additional 28,000 jobs were created in 2023 for the construction of new battery and solar module factories, ports for offshore wind and warehouses to store and transport clean energy products.

Energy efficiency added nearly 75,000 positions from the year before, the most of any sector in the energy industry.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said the data shows that “clean energy means jobs.” She added that the nation “will see hundreds of thousands more.”

Unions are also benefitting from the trend. According to the study, unionization rates in clean energy reached 12.4%, surpassing for the first time ever the average rate of unionization in the energy sector overall at 11%.