With green energy demand rising worldwide, the renewable energy industry is rapidly generating millions of employment opportunities. The renewable energy sector added a record number of jobs in 2023, with total employment rising from 13.7 million in 2022 to 16.2 million, according to a 2024 annual review by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
However, filling those positions with qualified talent remains a major hurdle. According to a 2024 Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study, the world could face a shortage of 7 million qualified workers in the clean energy sector by 2030. This looming “green gap” is largely driven by rising demand in three key technologies: solar, biofuels, and wind.
Let’s take a look at how these industry trends are shaping the clean energy workforce.
A bright future for solar energy
Solar photovoltaics (PV) remained the leading driver of renewable energy employment in 2023, accounting for 7.2 million jobs worldwide. China continued to dominate the sector, with 4.6 million of those roles based there, thanks to its position as the top manufacturer and installer of PV systems.
Among all renewable energy sectors, solar remains the most labor-intensive, offering employment across a wide range of roles—including installation, system design, operations and maintenance, project finance, and business development. Job demand is particularly high in Asia, the Middle East, and North America, where utility-scale solar projects are rapidly growing.
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Harvesting opportunities in bioenergy
In 2023, liquid biofuels represented the second-largest source of renewable energy employment globally. According to IRENA, an estimated 2.8 million people were employed in the sector, with Latin America accounting for 43% of the total and Asia holding another 39%. Brazil led globally, generating one-third of all biofuel jobs, while rising production placed Indonesia in second, with about 25% of the global workforce.
According to IRENA, most biofuel-related employment lies within the agricultural supply chain rather than at refineries. While jobs also exist in plant operations, logistics, lifecycle analysis, and sustainability auditing, feedstock cultivation remains the dominant source of employment—particularly in developing and emerging economies where agriculture tends to be more labor-intensive and reliant on informal, seasonal workers.
(Also read: Zamboanga Biomass Energy to Create Jobs and Help Farmers)
Wind power jobs picking up speed
In 2023, the global wind energy sector—both onshore and offshore—employed around 1.5 million people. The majority of these jobs were in Asia, which accounted for 59% of the total, followed by Europe at 22%, the Americas at 17.6%, and Africa and Oceania at just 1.4%.
China led by a wide margin, with 745,000 jobs—representing 51% of the global wind workforce.
To keep up with the fast-paced expansion of onshore and offshore wind, the world will need around 532,000 new wind technicians by 2028, according to the Global Wind Workforce Outlook, a report by the Global Wind Energy Council and Global Wind Organisation. Notably, 40% of these roles must be filled by new entrants to the industry—underscoring the urgent need to build a strong pipeline of skilled workers to support and sustain the global wind fleet.
(Also read: Consumer Group Calls for Clean Energy Shift in Mindanao)
Three green energy jobs to see strong demand
The BCG report highlights three renewable energy roles that are expected to see particularly strong demand in the coming years:
- Solar panel installers and roofers – A large share of solar jobs fall within the installation stage, requiring expertise in building and metal construction. These skills are needed for both small-scale rooftop systems and utility-scale solar PV plants.
- Wind turbine welders and technicians – As wind projects scale up, both manufacturing and installation activities call for strong welding and metalwork skills. Construction experience is also essential, especially for large onshore and offshore wind farms.
- Biofuel feedstock managers – In the bioenergy sector, about 15 to 20% of jobs are tied to the collection and management of agricultural feedstock, particularly in first-generation biofuel production, where extensive land is used for energy crops.
Navigating the green hiring landscape
In the Philippines, the industry will need approximately 350,000 additional workers by 2030 to support renewable energy projects currently in the pipeline, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). With the Philippines facing a 75% shortage of skilled RE workers and a large project pipeline, the urgency to build capacity is clear.
In response to these workforce challenges, the International Labour Organization (ILO) is collaborating with the Philippines to develop a national apprenticeship program focused on the renewable energy sector.
The initiative seeks to define industry standards and core skill sets, establish certified apprenticeships linked to real job placements, promote occupational safety and health, and ensure that industry voices are reflected in government policy-making.
By doing so, the Philippines can unlock the full potential of clean energy while creating equitable and sustainable career opportunities.
Sources:
https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/IRENA-ILO%20Renewable%20energy%20and%20jobs_2024.pdf
https://enable.green/news/renewable-energy-careers-growth-green-economy/
https://www.gwec.net/gwec-news/global-wind-workforce-outlook-2024-2028-report-released
https://www.gwec.net/reports/global-wind-workforce-outlook/2024-2028
