Clean technologies are driving job growth in the energy sector, but the increasing skills shortage is a growing concern.

The IEA report examines global energy employment by region and technology, providing essential analysis of the industry’s evolving labor needs. The number of jobs in the global energy sector increased in 2022 as rising investments in clean energy technologies drove demand for new workers across all regions of the world. This new IEA report offers a benchmark for employment across all energy industries.

The second edition of the World Energy Employment Report, published annually, maps energy sector employment by region, fuel, technology, and value chain. It provides a data-rich foundation for policymakers, industry, labor, and educators to understand the labor-related impacts of clean energy transitions.

Global energy employment rose to 67 million people in 2022, an increase of 3.5 million from pre-pandemic levels. More than half of this employment growth occurred in just five sectors: solar PV, wind, electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries, heat pumps, and critical minerals mining. Among these, solar PV is the largest employer, with 4 million jobs, while EVs and batteries were the fastest-growing, adding well over 1 million jobs since 2019.

Although jobs in fossil fuel industries have also increased year-on-year, the rebound has been more subdued, leaving fossil fuels below pre-pandemic levels, despite oil and gas companies experiencing record revenues in 2022. Consequently, clean energy employment now represents over half of total energy sector jobs, having overtaken fossil fuels in 2021.

The rise in clean energy jobs occurred in every region of the world, with China, home to the largest energy workforce today, accounting for the largest share of jobs added globally. The expansion of clean energy industries is also generating upstream jobs in critical mineral mining, which added 180,000 jobs in the last three years, highlighting the growing importance of these essential elements in the new energy economy.

However, a growing number of energy industries cite skilled labor shortages as a key barrier to ramping up activity, according to a proprietary survey by the IEA involving 160 energy firms globally. The report finds that the number of workers pursuing degrees or certifications relevant to energy sector jobs is not keeping pace with growing demand. This is particularly true for vocational workers like electricians specialized in energy-sector work, as well as professionals in science, technology, and engineering.