Renewable energy employment will reach more than 38 million by 2030

A study published by IRENA estimates that more than 12.7 million people are employed in renewables and estimates significant growth in the sector by the end of the decade.

Renewable energies continue their unstoppable advance in our society. According to a study published by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Association), the green sector is in luck, exceeding 12,700,000 jobs worldwide in 2021; a record that is explained by the growing acceleration of environmentally friendly energies. Thus, the report provides illuminating figures showing how, over the last decade, employment in renewables has grown from 7.3 million people in 2012 to 12.7 million in 2021. This growth is estimated to fall short when compared to the 38 million professionals expected by 2030 if investment in renewables continues to grow in line with the most favorable forecasts. Overall, energy-related jobs would total 139 million worldwide, including more than 74 million in energy efficiency, electric vehicles, storage systems, and hydrogen.

Evolution of employment in renewable energies in the last decade

In terms of technologies, the study indicates that solar photovoltaic is the subsector that generates the most renewable employment, with 4,291,000 people dedicated to its installation, production, maintenance… All followed by biofuels, with 2.42 million; hydroelectric, with 2.37; wind, with 1.37; solar thermal, with 769,000; biomass, with 716,000; biogas, with 307,000; geothermal, with 196,000; solar concentration, with 79,000; waste management, with 30,000; and another 126,000 jobs in other types of renewable technologies and subsectors.

And it is not in vain that solar photovoltaic was responsible, last year 2021, for generating a third of all employment in renewables; It is also the sector with the highest growth in installed capacity and demand worldwide.

Employment in renewables by type of technology

Globally, the year 2021 meant the installation of 257 GW of renewable energy, expanding cumulative production capacity by 9% to reach 3,068 GW; solar and wind energy accounted for 88% of this (133 GW and 93 GW respectively). In contrast, hydroelectric power generation capacity only experienced a growth of 25 GW, maintaining the path of 2020.

Installed renewable energy capacity worldwide world