A Talent Buyer’s Market in Solar: How to Gain the Hiring Edge

A Softer Market, But Not a Stopped One

Everyone in the renewable energy market knows we’re in a soft hiring cycle. Last week’s Bureau of Labor Statistics report showed a clear decline in overall hiring across the U.S. economy. Hiring is down. The market is softer.

But if you’ve been around the solar and energy storage world for long, you know this isn’t the first time we’ve hit a downturn. And just like every cycle before, this one won’t last forever.

We’ve seen this before. There will be more pain, more layoffs, more bankruptcies, but there will also be major growth on the other side.

A Talent Buyer’s Market Has Arrived

In real estate, they call this a buyer’s market. In hiring, that’s exactly what we’re seeing now. The shift has happened.

There are incredible professionals on the market right now. People from companies that have gone under like Powin, Fluence, Mosaic are available. People with deep experience in utility-scale solar, energy storage, project finance, and more. If you’re in a position to bring them on, you have a rare chance to build your team with top talent, before the rest of the industry catches up.

It’s not just those who were part of the layoffs. Many professionals are starting to quietly explore their options. Whether it’s concerns about FEOC-related restrictions or broader financial instability, a lot of smart people are keeping their eyes open for better-positioned companies.

The companies that hired during COVID, while everyone else stood still, surged forward when the rebound hit.

Lessons from the Last Downturn

We saw this same dynamic during COVID. When the world shut down, many companies hit pause. But the ones who pushed forward, who hired key players while everyone else was standing still, those are the companies that came out ahead. They scooped up market share, positioned themselves for growth, and surged forward when the rebound hit.

We’re in that moment again.

Get Ahead Before the Rebound

Now is the time to think seriously about your hiring plans for Q4 and 2026. Who do you need on your team to be ready for the next wave of growth? What positions will set you up to move faster than your competition when projects start picking back up?

The market is giving you a window. The companies that act now will be the ones best positioned when momentum returns.

Don’t wait for a full recovery to start building your team. The opportunity cost is too high.