Global jobs in renewable energy surged to 16.2 million in 2023, marking an 18% rise from 2022, according to a recent report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO). This growth is attributed to expanding renewable capacity and increased equipment production.
China led the sector with 7.4 million jobs, nearly half of the global total. The European Union followed with 1.8 million jobs, Brazil with 1.56 million, and both the United States and India approaching 1 million each. The solar photovoltaics (PV) sector saw the most significant growth, supporting 7.2 million jobs worldwide, with 4.6 million in China. Southeast Asia has also become a major hub for PV exports, fueled by substantial Chinese investments.
The liquid biofuels sector ranked second in job numbers, with Brazil accounting for one-third of the global 2.8 million biofuel jobs. Hydropower and wind followed, though hydropower employment saw a slight decline, decreasing from 2.5 million jobs in 2022 to 2.3 million in 2023 due to slower project deployment. Wind energy jobs reached 1.5 million, primarily driven by China and Europe’s leadership in turbine production and installations.
Africa, despite its renewable potential, accounted for just 324,000 jobs in the sector due to limited investment. IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera emphasized the need for global cooperation and increased financing to enable all regions to benefit from the renewables sector, stressing that broader support would help break down barriers and accelerate the energy transition globally.
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