Global Energy Employment Report 2023

The second edition of the World Energy Employment (WEE) report tracks the evolution of the energy workforce from pre-pandemic times, through the global energy crisis, up to the present. It offers a detailed overview of energy employment, estimating the size and distribution of the workforce across regions, sectors, and technologies. The data covers the entire energy value chain, including fossil fuel supply, bioenergy, nuclear, low-emissions hydrogen, power generation, transmission, distribution, and storage, as well as key end uses like vehicle manufacturing and energy efficiency in buildings and industry. For the first time, WEE 2023 also includes employment data for the extraction of critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, and lithium.

This year’s report compares energy employment needs with projections through 2030, based on IEA scenarios, and outlines policies that could help countries build and sustain a skilled energy workforce during the energy transition.

WEE 2023 delves into the risks of skilled labor shortages and their potential impact on the industry’s future. It features new insights on skills, certifications, wages, and job postings, highlighting that shifts in energy employment will persist, presenting both opportunities and risks. With the right support measures, policymakers, energy companies, labor representatives, educational and vocational training institutions, and other stakeholders can collaborate to mitigate labor transition risks and ensure that the shift to cleaner energy sources remains focused on people.