SEI has been training Spanish speakers worldwide since 2014, with over 15,000 people taking part in our program – and we’re still counting! While the success of this milestone is meaningful to us and our longtime U.S. & Latin America partners, how does Hispanic and Latinx participation impact the solar workforce at large?
Hispanics and Latinxs projected to represent 78% of new U.S. net workers by 2030
According to the latest U.S. census, the Hispanic and Latino population of the United States is the nation’s largest racial or ethnic minority, with 61.1M people representing 18.9% of the total population. The US Department of labor has projected that hispanics will account for 78% of net new workers between 2020 and 2030, with 1 out of 5 workers being Latinx by 2030.
With Hispanic and Latinx workers currently making up only 20% of the solar workforce, a commitment to diversity and inclusion will do more than expand opportunities for this underrepresented group; it will also help expand the pool of qualified workers and ultimately improve the impact and reach of solar. Rather than viewing it as a side concern, we have every reason to make DEI priorities an integral part of the solar industry.
Considering these facts, the future outlook of American solar energy needs to include Hispanic and Latinx communities. But the lack of access to solar education, as well language barriers make them less likely than other demographics to have job opportunities that could help the solar workforce rate increase. Despite the need for qualified workers, only 26% of solar firms have a strategy to increase ethnic or racial minority hires.
Accessible education honoring differences and supporting diversity
At SEI, we are strengthening our efforts to support Spanish speakers in the US and Latin America by offering accessible solar training in their spoken language. This high quality education provides career paths with job opportunities that not only help grow the health of the solar industry, but improve the quality of life for hispanic communities by providing them with access to energy independence.
The industry needs a diverse, inclusive and well-qualified workforce to help secure its vital role in the energy transition. It’s important that we not only include, but to also honor our differences in order to represent all the voices of the Spanish speaking community across America today – that’s why SEI has recently renamed its Program to “Hispanic and Latin American Program”.
With the help of solar champions like you, we’re accelerating this transition by preparing workers who are absolutely essential to seeing solar grow.
