- In 2022, solar photovoltaics (PV) remained the most significant employer within the sector, providing job opportunities for 4.9 million individuals out of the 13.7 million jobs.
- Most of these renewable energy jobs remain concentrated in a few countries, with China accounting for 41%.
The global workforce in the renewable energy sector has expanded to over 13.7 million jobs in 2022. This marks a substantial increase of one million jobs compared to the previous year, nearly doubling the figures from a decade ago. These findings were obtained from the latest collaborative report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The “Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2023” report highlights how substantial investments in the renewable energy sector have increased job opportunities worldwide. This trend has persisted despite global crises and challenges.
The data underscores that most of these renewable energy jobs remain concentrated in a few countries. China is leading the way and accounts for a substantial 41 per cent of the global total, closely followed by Brazil, European Union (EU) countries, India, and the United States. These nations drive capacity installations and play pivotal roles in equipment manufacturing, engineering, and related services.
In 2022, solar photovoltaics (PV) remained the most significant employer within the sector, providing job opportunities for 4.9 million individuals. This represents over a third of the global renewable energy workforce. Hydropower sustained its employment figures from the prior year, maintaining approximately 2.5 million jobs. Similarly, biofuels contributed a stable level of employment, while wind power contributed 1.4 million jobs.
The Director-General of IRENA, Francesco La Camera, lauded this outstanding growth, stating, “2022 was another outstanding year for renewable energy jobs, amid multiplying challenges. Creating millions of jobs will require a much faster pace of investments in energy transition technologies.”