Clean energy remains the primary engine of job growth

All clean energy segments expanded in 2023, with overall year-on-year growth of 4.6%. Solar PV continued to lead clean energy employment growth in 2023, adding over half a million jobs as the sector once again surpassed expectations for new installations. While persistent, growth in other sectors was tempered by various complications.

Employment in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and batteries grew by 410 000 as firms positioned themselves to capture more of the growing market, even as the vehicle manufacturing industry grappled with rising costs and increased global competition. While a number of wind manufacturers implemented layoffs as rising costs contributed to a slower-than-anticipated offshore project pipeline, total wind employment still climbed as a record number of new projects entered construction. Many sectors are also straining against shortages of skilled workers, especially those requiring high degrees of specialisation, such as grids and nuclear power.

Intense competition for talent in clean energy sectors is prompting firms to hire aggressively in anticipation of future growth – a tactic that could prove effective but may also leave some companies exposed to uncertainties related to project flows and changing policies.

Countries that are forging ahead into clean energy are seeing significant employment growth from these sectors, with clean energy job growth representing over 10% of economy-wide job growth in China and 4-6% in advanced economies such as the United States, the European Union and Japan in 2023. However, in many emerging and developing economies other than China, clean energy’s share of new jobs is below 2%.

Employment in oil and gas increased in 2023, but coal jobs are in structural decline

Overall fossil fuel employment grew by 3% in 2023, but firms took varied approaches in balancing near-term labour demand against the longer-term outlook.

The oil and gas supply sector added nearly 600 000 jobs after a period of cautious post-pandemic rehiring, with new liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure and upstream developments in the Americas and the Middle East contributing to growth. Global coal employment fell in both supply and power, largely due to continued mining productivity gains and a slowdown in the pipeline of new coal-fired power plants compared with the highs of the last decade. Employment in manufacturing vehicles with internal combustion engines rose by 440 000 jobs, just outstripping job additions in EVs.

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I agree... The clean energy sector is creating more jobs in the world than any other sector... This is a true definition of killing two birds with one stone... It encourages clean renewable energy that is good for the planet and also curbs the unemployment crisis in the world...
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This trend underscores the increasing demand for skilled workers in the clean energy industry, which is expected to continue as the world moves towards a more sustainable energy future
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Solar energy is at long last quite cheap and sustainable.
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@tabitha_kimani and at the same time it creates employment for the youths as it helps curb the use of fossil fuels
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Countries that are forging ahead into clean energy are seeing significant employment growth from these sectors, with clean energy job growth
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@kelvin_thuranira_kaberia i agree... That is why more countries should commit to transitioning to clean energy
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Governments and businesses must continue to invest in this sector to ensure sustained job growth and a greener future.
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@rashid_kamau More countries need to realize that the clean energy thing will boost their economic side and also help them achieve their climate goals
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The use of clean energy will save us a lot, environmentally and economically
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@annett_michuki i agree... It is a good thing that every country needs to jump in
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It is nice seeing that shifting towards green had energy had led to an increase in job opportunities for the various individuals.
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@jane_wangui the shift towards green energy has enormous potential to improve the lives of the people
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@jane_wangui the shift towards renewable energy is very beneficial for the people and the country's economy