Coal vs Solar Jobs Trend: Employment Shift from 1985 to 2013 #1384060 (License: Personal Use)

This bar chart illustrates the dramatic divergence in U.S. employment trends between coal mining and solar power industries from 1985 through 2013. Coal mining employment dropped from over 160,000 to under 80,000 workers, while solar jobs-defined as those spending at least 50% of time on solar-related activities-grew from near zero to over 140,000 by 2013. Data sources include the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and The Solar Foundation.

Used in energy policy articles, sustainability reports, or news features discussing the transition from fossil fuels to renewables; matches user intent seeking evidence of workforce shifts in clean energy adoption.