San Diego County was home to more than 8,300 jobs in the solar industry last year, according to a report released Wednesday.
The Solar Jobs Census placed San Diego behind only Los Angeles County, which had over 15,000 solar jobs in 2015. Statewide, California tallied nearly 75,600 solar jobs, an increase of 38 percent over 2014, according to the report.
More than half the jobs statewide involved installation of solar systems, while others were in sales and distribution, and manufacturing.
"Solar power is a bright spot in California's economy, bringing jobs and economic development to every corner of the state," said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar Energy Industries Association. "While conventional energy industries are losing jobs, we are seeing record growth, and bringing clean air and climate solutions along the way."
Clark County in Nevada, Orange and Santa Clara counties in California, and Maricopa County in Arizona were the others with more than 5,000 solar jobs.
In San Diego County, more than one-third of the solar employees were women and minorities, according to the report.
The census found that 32 states and the District of Columbia added solar jobs last year. Half the states in the U.S. have doubled solar employment since 2012, said Andrea Luecke, president and executive director of The Solar Foundation.
