A new Cook County+WBC report provides a solar baseline — showing strong growth, workforce gaps, and steps toward an equitable clean energy future.

The Chicago region is entering a decisive phase in the clean energy transition, and understanding the structure of its solar installation industry is essential for shaping that trajectory.

To provide a clear foundation for regional planning, the Cook County Government Bureau of Economic Development partnered with World Business Chicago through the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership to produce a comprehensive landscape assessment of the sector. The report establishes a common baseline for Solar Synergy, the county’s collaborative initiative, to convene and align the diverse stakeholders that influence the region’s solar, small business, and workforce ecosystems.

Link to read/download report.

The assessment examines current market conditions, existing programs, and gaps that may influence the pace and equity of solar deployment. It identifies where workforce pipelines can be strengthened to better align with industry demand and to support quality jobs for local workers. It also highlights opportunities for collaboration across institutions, with an emphasis on small business participation and expanded access for communities that have historically been underrepresented in emerging clean energy fields. The cooperative effort behind the analysis reflects a shared goal: closing structural gaps and supporting a more equitable and sustainable distribution of green energy technologies.

“Cook County is committed to addressing these barriers by aligning partners, improving supports and creating conditions where small contractors can compete and grow,” said Xochitl Flores, Bureau Chief, Cook County Government Bureau of Economic Development. “When local solar businesses are equipped to succeed, the entire region benefits through stronger job pathways and more equitable access to clean energy.”

Chicagoland’s solar landscape is shifting in measurable ways, and the trends point to both momentum and complexity.

Regional capacity is projected to more than double between late 2025 and the end of the decade, adding more than 600,000 kilowatts to a grid that has already expanded twentyfold since 2020.

This growth reflects a period marked by strong state policy, declining technology costs, and rising awareness among residential and commercial consumers. At the same time, the solar electric power generation industry is positioned to outpace national growth. In 2025, the sector employed 269 workers, placing the region 17th among metro areas. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is expected to increase by 167% in Chicagoland, slightly ahead of the national projection of 160%. If these trends hold, the region will rise to 16th place nationally for industry employment by 2035.

Yet the region’s workforce story presents a more nuanced picture. Solar installation roles are expected to grow faster locally than nationwide. In 2025, Chicagoland employed 167 solar photovoltaic installers. By 2035, that number is projected to rise by 84%, compared to a national increase of 46%. Despite this growth, the occupation pays a median wage of $39,000, which is lower than most related solar-adjacent roles. Fewer than 10% of occupations requiring related skills have lower earnings. This gap may complicate recruitment and retention at a moment when industry demand is rising.

The analysis also underscores the influence of adjacent industries. Solar installation overlaps significantly with construction and electrical contracting. Nationally, electrical contracting and wiring are expected to grow 7% through 2035. Locally, those sectors are projected to decline 4% during the same period, a reduction of roughly 990 jobs. In total, Chicagoland is expected to see a decline of about 849 jobs across occupations requiring solar-related skills between 2025 and 2035. These shifts highlight the need to think about solar workforce development not as an isolated effort, but as part of a broader labor market transition that affects multiple trades and technical occupations.

This complexity is one reason the County established Solar Synergy, a collaborative initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advancing Equity through Workforce Partnerships program. The initiative brings together workforce organizations, small businesses, community partners, and industry representatives to align training programs, strengthen capacity building, and improve data sharing across institutions. The new landscape assessment offers a foundation for this work by identifying where capital access remains limited, where reimbursement cycles strain small firms, and where transparency across programs could improve planning and reduce fragmentation. These insights can help the region build a more coordinated ecosystem that supports stable career pathways and stronger business participation.

The report also identifies opportunities tied to upskilling. As more households and businesses consider installing solar, there is potential to broaden pathways into technical roles that provide reliable wages and long-term advancement. Targeted training could expand access for underrepresented communities and improve affordability for residents seeking residential solar. This forms part of a larger regional effort to align clean energy goals with inclusive economic development, where investments in emerging industries translate into wider community benefit.

Chicagoland’s solar opportunity is not solely about generating electricity. It is about economic diversification, workforce mobility, and small business resilience. With a large labor market, strong policy environment, rising local demand, and a growing set of collaborative partners, the region is positioned to shape how the clean energy transition unfolds locally. The solar landscape assessment provides the data. Solar Synergy provides the table for shared action. Together, they outline a path toward a more equitable and durable clean energy economy.

“Even with shifts in federal policy, the data shows clear and sustained demand for solar,” said Bridget Harney, Regional Research Sr. Manager, World Business Chicago. “This sector is creating durable job pathways and is expected to grow significantly across the next decade.”

As the clean energy transition accelerates, Chicagoland has both the momentum and the partnerships required to lead. With shared data, aligned strategy, and a commitment to equity, the region can ensure that solar growth translates into real jobs, stronger small businesses, and broader opportunity. This baseline is not the finish line—it is the foundation for coordinated action across the next decade.

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