One of many main tales that outlined the tech sector in 2023 was layoffs. Firms massive and small shed over 240,000 jobs within the final 12 months, and whereas the development has cooled of late, it hasn’t stopped, with almost 7,000 jobs lower in November alone.
However there have been shiny spots. Local weather tech is one sector that has been hiring, and 2024 appears to be like like it is going to be persevering with the development.
Clear power jobs have grown 10% up to now two years, outpacing the economic system as a complete, in accordance with a report by business group E2. By 2032, when the Inflation Discount Act is about to run out, the fastest-growing job fields embody wind turbine technician (45% progress) and photo voltaic photovoltaic installer (22% progress), in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For startups, 2023 was extra muddled. As buyers closed their pocketbooks, founders needed to make exhausting decisions about methods to lengthen their runways. Some needed to resort to layoffs, however not everybody. Many founders I’ve spoken with proceed to emphasise that they’re hiring for a wide range of roles.
For these laid off from the overall tech sector, local weather tech would look like an interesting pivot, and for a lot of, that’s proving to be true. Almost each firm wants software program builders, mission managers and designers. Is there a necessity for 240,000 of them? In all probability not but. And a few that appear to be a detailed match may require a little bit of local weather or power information on the a part of the applicant.
In different phrases, there’s a expertise hole.