On November 2nd, 2012, The Solar Foundation announced that the U.S. solar industry employs 119,016 Americans. This figure represents the addition of 13,872 new solar jobs and a 13.2 percent employment growth rate over the past twelve months. During the same period, employment in the overall economy grew at a rate of 2.3 percent* (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), signifying that 1 in 230 jobs created nationally over the last year were created in the solar industry. Full report coming Nov. 14th: http://tinyurl.com/bxjxbco

In response to this report, and a spike of workshop registrations and individuals applying for the SEI Solar Professionals Certificate Program in the second half of the 2012 training year, SEI has added additional solar training sessions for the end of 2012 and increased sessions for the 2013 training schedule.

"Over the past 21 years, Solar Energy International has trained over 25,000 people from all over the U.S. and internationally, many of whom are now part of this solar workforce of 119,000 people. For a great deal of those people, their training started right here with SEI and we plan on continuing this tradition of quality technical solar training to help ensure a highly qualified solar workforce for years to come."

- Johnny Weiss, Advising Co-founder for Solar Energy International