In 2023, the global renewable energy sector experienced its largest-ever increase in employment, with jobs rising from 13.7 million to 16.2 million, according to a joint review by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). This 18% surge reflected rapid growth in renewable energy generation capacities and the expansion of equipment manufacturing.
China led the way, accounting for 46% of the global total with 7.4 million renewable energy jobs. The European Union followed with 1.8 million, Brazil with 1.56 million, and both the United States and India recorded nearly 1 million jobs each.
The solar photovoltaic (PV) sector saw the largest employment gains, supporting 7.2 million jobs globally. China was a key driver, hosting 4.6 million of these jobs, bolstered by its role as the dominant manufacturer and installer. Southeast Asia also emerged as a solar export hub, creating additional jobs in the region.
The liquid biofuels industry held the second-highest number of renewable energy jobs, with Brazil leading, responsible for one-third of the 2.8 million jobs in this sector. Indonesia followed closely, accounting for a quarter of global biofuels employment due to its growing production.
Hydropower was the only major sector to see a decline, with jobs falling from 2.5 million in 2022 to 2.3 million in 2023. China, India, Brazil, Vietnam, and Pakistan remained the largest employers in this industry.
The wind energy sector, led by China and Europe, saw stable employment, with the two regions contributing 52% and 21% of the global total of 1.5 million jobs, respectively.
Despite its vast potential, Africa remained underrepresented in the global renewables sector, receiving a small share of investments and supporting just 324,000 jobs in 2023.
ILO Director General Gilbert Houngbo emphasized the importance of investing in education and skills development to ensure workers are prepared for the growing clean energy industry. He noted that reskilling workers from fossil fuel sectors and addressing gender disparities are crucial to making the energy transition just and sustainable. “A sustainable transition is what the Paris Agreement requires of us, and what we committed to achieving when we signed up to the agreement,” Houngbo said.
