First Solar is projected to support 39,320 direct, indirect and induced jobs in the United States by 2027, according to a new economic impact study commissioned by the company.
First Solar said its U.S. operations supported 29,605 jobs in 2025, representing about $3 billion in labour income. That figure is forecast to increase to roughly $4 billion by 2027.
The study estimates the company’s contribution to U.S. gross domestic product will rise from $5.8 billion in 2025 to $7.8 billion in 2027, an increase of 28%.
By 2027, First Solar expects to operate around 18GW of annual nameplate solar module production capacity across six manufacturing facilities located in Alabama, Louisiana, Ohio and South Carolina.
The analysis was conducted by the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette using IMPLAN modelling software. It assessed the company’s actual and projected U.S. spending in 2025 and 2027.
“This study demonstrates how genuinely American solar manufacturing can deliver long-term economic value at the intersection of national priorities such as energy dominance, affordable electricity, and economic prosperity,” said Mark Widmar, chief executive officer of First Solar.
“We’re proud to contribute to America’s reindustrialization through our manufacturing and supply chain investments, as our technology works alongside all other forms of energy generation to produce affordable, reliable electricity to power growth and prosperity,” he added.
First Solar said its U.S. capital investments supported an additional 10,370 jobs in 2025, largely related to construction activity. These investments contributed nearly $900 million in labour income and an estimated $1.6 billion to GDP.
The company added that since 2019 it will have invested approximately $4.5 billion in American manufacturing and research and development infrastructure by 2026.
