Global renewable energy employment hits 16.2m as solar power helps lead jobs growth

More than 16.2 million people are now employed in the renewable energy sector, with a surge in solar power investments driving significant job growth, according to a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena). The agency’s annual review revealed an 18% increase in renewable energy employment over the past year, with China leading the charge, accounting for nearly half (48%) of all jobs in the sector.

Solar photovoltaics (PV), which includes energy generated by solar panels, was the biggest contributor to employment, with 7.1 million jobs globally, up from 4.9 million in 2022. China alone accounted for 4.6 million of these jobs, reflecting its dominance in PV installation and manufacturing. Chinese investments have also helped turn Southeast Asia into a key export hub for solar PV, creating millions of jobs across the region.

India reported 318,600 solar jobs, with on-grid solar responsible for 238,000 of them, while the U.S. had 280,000 PV jobs. In Europe, solar employment was significantly higher, with 757,500 jobs in 2023.

Other sectors also saw growth. Liquid biofuels ranked second in job creation, with Brazil leading the world in this area, followed by Indonesia. However, hydropower saw a decline in jobs, dropping from 2.5 million in 2022 to 2.3 million, with China, India, Brazil, Vietnam, and Pakistan as the largest employers.

The wind sector continued to grow, with China and Europe contributing a combined 73% of the 1.5 million global wind jobs.

Despite this growth, the report highlighted a growing skills shortage, particularly in clean energy roles, and called for retraining workers from fossil fuel industries and encouraging more women into the sector, where they currently make up only 32% of the workforce. The report also noted that Africa received a small share of global renewables investment, translating to just 324,000 jobs in 2023.

Francesco La Camera, Irena’s director general, emphasized the need to support marginalized regions, urging the global community to address barriers preventing progress in renewable energy transitions.