WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. solar industry lost 9,800 jobs in 2017, a 3.8 percent drop from 2016, according to a report by the Solar Foundation released on Wednesday.
It was the first time that jobs have decreased since the non-profit group begun tracking solar jobs in 2010.
In the past 7 years, the solar workforce increased by 168 percent, from 93,000 jobs in 2010 to over 250,000 jobs in 2017.
"After six years of rapid and steady growth, the solar industry faced headwinds that led to a dip in employment in 2017, including a slowdown in the pace of new solar installations," said Andrea Luecke, President and Executive Director at The Solar Foundation.
"Uncertainty over the outcome of the trade case also had a likely impact on solar jobs growth," he added.
U.S. President Donald Trump, invoking an outdated tool under the rarely used Trade Act of 1974, signed directives last month to impose tariffs on imported solar panels.
Trump said the tariffs would create jobs and allow U.S. to make solar panels at home.
The Solar Foundation's report, however, found that nearly 78 percent of solar jobs are in installation, sales and project development, compared with just 15 percent in manufacturing.
The Solar Energy Industries Association, the national association for the industry, predicted the tariffs will cost 23,000 existing and future jobs.
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