可再生能源与就业：2024年度回顾报告

RenewableEnergyandJobs

AnnualReview2024

1

millionjobsin2023

InCollaborationwith

6.

©IRENA2024

Unlessotherwisestated,materialinthispublicationmaybefreelyused,shared,copied,reproduced,printedand/orstored,providedthatappropriateacknowledgementisgivenofIRENAasthesourceandcopyrightholder.Materialinthispublicationthatisattributedtothirdpartiesmaybesubjecttoseparatetermsofuseandrestrictions,andappropriatepermissionsfromthesethirdpartiesmayneedtobesecuredbeforeanyuseofsuchmaterial.

ISBN:978-92-9260-627-5

Citation:IRENAandILO(2024),Renewableenergyandjobs:Annualreview2024,InternationalRenewableEnergyAgency,AbuDhabi,andInternationalLabourOrganization,Geneva.

ABOUTIRENA

TheInternationalRenewableEnergyAgency(IRENA),aglobalinter-governmentalorganisationestablishedin2011,istheworld’sprincipalplatformforco-operationtoadvancethetransformationoftheglobalenergysysteminpursuitofsustainabledevelopment,energyaccess,energysecurity,andlow-carboneconomicgrowthandprosperity.Servingasacentreofexcellenceandrepositoryofknowledge,IRENApromotestheadoptionandsustainableuseofallformsofrenewableenergy,includingbioenergy,geothermal,hydropower,ocean,solarandwindenergy.

ABOUTILO

TheonlytripartiteUNagency,theInternationalLabourOrganization(ILO)has,since1919,broughttogethergovernments,employersandworkersin187MemberStatestosetlabourstandards,developpoliciesanddeviseprogrammespromotingdecentworkforallwomenandmen.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ThisreportwasdevelopedundertheguidanceofRaulAlfaro-Pelico(Director,IRENAKnowledge,PolicyandFinanceCentre),andauthoredbyMichaelRennerandCeliaGarcía-Baños(IRENA)andArslanKhalid(consultant).

HydropowerjobestimatesarebasedonstatisticsprovidedbyDennisAkande(IRENA)withmodellingcontributedbyMaximilianBanningandPhilipUlrich(GesellschaftfürWirtschaftlicheStrukturforschung).

IRENAexpressesgratitudeforvaluablecontributions(Chapter3)fromcolleaguesattheILO,includingCasperEdmonds,MoustaphaKamalGueye,JoseLuisViverosAñorve,CamilaPereiraRegoMeireles,OlgaStrietska-IlinaandHaeKyeungChun,andfromDianaJunqueraCuriel(IndustriALL).

TheauthorsalsothankIRENAnationalfocalpointsforcountrydata,RenataGrisoli(UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme)fordataonBrazil’sbioethanolworkforce,andSultanMollov(IRENA)forresearchonUSpoliciesundertheJustice40initiative.TheauthorsaregratefultoRabiaFerroukhi(InternationalNetworkforEnergyTransitionThinkTanks)forherpeerreview,andtoPaulKomorforhistechnicalreview.

PublicationsandeditorialsupportwereprovidedbyFrancisFieldandStephanieClarke.ThereportwaseditedbyStevenKennedy.CarenWeeksproducedthefinalreportdesign.

Forfurtherinformationortoprovidefeedback,gotopublications@.Downloadfrom

/publications

DISCLAIMER

Thispublicationandthematerialhereinareprovided“asis”.AllreasonableprecautionshavebeentakenbyIRENAtoverifythereliabilityofthematerial.However,neitherIRENAnoranyofitsofficials,agents,dataprovidersorotherthird-partycontentprovidersprovideawarrantyofanykind,eitherexpressedorimplied,andtheyacceptnoresponsibilityorliabilityforanyconsequenceofuseofthepublication.TheinformationcontainedhereindoesnotnecessarilyrepresenttheviewsoftheMembersofIRENA.

ThementionofspecificcompaniesorcertainprojectsorproductsdoesnotimplythattheyareendorsedorrecommendedbyIRENAinpreferencetoothersofasimilarnaturethatarenotmentioned.ThedesignationsemployedandthepresentationofmaterialhereindonotimplytheexpressionofanyopiniononthepartofIRENAconcerningthelegalstatusofanyregion,country,territory,cityorarea,ortheauthoritiesthereof,orconcerningthedelimitationoffrontiersorboundaries.

3

IRENA

InternationalRenewableEnergyAgency

FOREWORD

Theexistentialthreattohumanwellbeingposedbyclimatechangebecomesclearereachyear.Yetthecollectiveactionneededtoconfrontthischallengeremainsinadequate,hinderedbypoliticsanddisagreements,growinginequalityandsocio-economicuncertainty.Together,thesearecreatingafearofchange.

Theenergytransitionmustbebasedontheunderstandingthathumanandenvironmentalwell-beingareintrinsicallylinked.Environmental,socialandeconomicconsiderationsmustgohand-in-hand.Governments,employers,workersandcivilsocietymustworktogether,proactively,usingsocialdialoguetoensurethatallvoicesareheard.

Ajusttransitionmeansnotonlymarshallingthenecessaryfinancialresourcesanddevelopingnewtechnologies,itmustalsoensurethetransitionyieldstangiblebenefitsforall.Inclusionandequalityareessentialcomponents.

Sinceitsinception,thisreportserieshasillustratedtheimportanceofensuringtheenergytransitiondeliverssocio-economicbenefitsanddecentworkinwaysthatarebothinclusiveandjust.Thislatesteditionaddstoourknowledgeofemploymentinthegrowingrenewableenergysector,byprovidingthelatestglobaldataandestimatesfromaroundtheworld,andbyhighlightingthecomprehensivepolicychoicesthatshapejobcreationbothtodayandinthefuture.Itfindsthattherearecurrentlyatleast16.2millionrenewableenergyjobsworldwide.

IRENAismonitoringprogresstowardtheglobalgoaloftriplingrenewablepowercapacityby2030,adoptedatCOP28.Fulfillingthisobjectivewillcreatemanymorejobsintheyearstocome.Yetitisnotenoughtofocusonthenumbersalone.Thebackboneoftheenergytransitionhastobeawell-skilledworkforce.

The111thSessionoftheInternationalLabourConferencein2023emphasisedthatskillsdevelopmentisakeyenablerofajusttransition.Itfollowsthat,collectively,wemustenhanceeducationandtrainingfornewlabourmarketentrantsandensurethatexistingworkershaveopportunitiesforreskillingandupskilling.Thisreportincludesachapterdedicatedtothisimportantissue.

Theenergytransitionmustbedeliveredbyaworkforcethatisdiverse,withampleopportunitiesforwomen,youth,andmembersofminorityanddisadvantagedgroups.Attractive,productiveanddecentjobsmustbecreated,offeringgoodpay,safeworkingconditionsandrespectforworkers’rights.Furthermore,thetransitionshouldchampionequityandsocialjusticeandensurethatcommunitiesacrosstheworldgainafairshareofthejobsandincomesgenerated.

ThemandatesofIRENAandILOplacethemattheintersectionofthesecrucialeconomicandenergyissues.Weareproudtoworktogethertobringourjointexpertiseandresourcestobearonthesepressing,multi-facetedpriorities,andremaincommittedtosupportingajust,inclusiveandsustainableenergytransition.

FrancescoLaCamera

Director-General

InternationalRenewableEnergyAgency

GilbertF.Houngbo

Director-General

InternationalLabourOrganization

TABLEOF

CONTENTS

Foreword 03

Abbreviations 07

AbouttheIRENARenewableenergy

andjobsseries 08

KEYNUMBERSANDMESSAGES 10

Introduction:Dynamicsofthe

renewableenergyindustry 12

©nattrass/

TABLEOFCONTENTS

CHAPTER1

RENEWABLEENERGYEMPLOYMENT

WORLDWIDEANDBYTECHNOLOGY 18

1.1Solarphotovoltaic 21

1.2Wind 24

1.3Hydropower 26

1.4Liquidbiofuels 28

1.5Concentratedsolarpower 30

1.6Decentralisedrenewables 32

1.7Heatpumps 35

CHAPTER2

RENEWABLEENERGYJOBSIN

SELECTEDCOUNTRIES 36

2.1China 39

2.2Brazil 43

2.3UnitedStates 45

2.4India 50

2.5Europe 52

2.6Othercountries 60

CHAPTER3

SKILLSFORAJUSTENERGYTRANSITION 66

3.1Theenergytransitionandits

implicationsforskillsdevelopment 68

3.2Keyskillschallengesfortherenewable

energyindustry 71

3.3Policyrecommendations 72

CHAPTER4

THEIMPORTANCEOFAPEOPLE-AND

PLANET-CENTREDENERGYTRANSITION 76

References...............................84

5

TABLEOFCONTENTS

Figures

Figure1Globalrenewableelectricitycapacity,

2010-2023 13

Figure2SolarPV(2a)andwind(2b)capacities,

Chinaandothertop10countries,plus

restoftheworld:Newadditionsand

cumulativecapacitiesasof2023 14

Figure3Evolutionofglobalrenewable

energyemploymentbytechnology,

2012-2023 19

Figure4Globalrenewableenergyemployment,

bytechnology,2023 20

Figure5Solarphotovoltaicemployment

in2023:Toptencountries 22

Figure6Windemploymentin2023:

Toptencountries 25

Figure7Worldrenewablehydropower

capacityadditions(GW),2013-2023 26

Figure8Hydropoweremployment

(directjobs),bycountry,2023 27

Figure9Liquidbiofuelsemploymentin2023:

Toptencountries 28

Figure10Distributionoflabour(a)andskills(b)

requiredalongthevaluechainfor

thedevelopmentofa100MW

+10-hourTESCSPplant 30

Figure11Renewableenergyemploymentin

selectedcountriesandregions 37

Figure12China’ssolarPVmoduleexports(GW)

bymaindestinations,2017-2023 41

Figure13Frameworkconditionsfora

successfulenergytransition 77

Figure14Divergingobjectivesofthe

energytransition:Implications

forjobsandjobquality 79

Tables

Table1Estimateddirectandindirectjobs

inrenewableenergyworldwide,

byindustry,2023(inthousands) 38

Table2EUcleanenergyequipmentmanufacturing

capacityandEUproductionasa

percentageofEUmarketdemand 52

Boxes

Box1UnitedStates:Ensuringbenefitsfor

disadvantagedcommunities 49

6

Abbreviations

CRESChinaRenewableEnergySociety

CSPconcentratedsolarpower

DOEDepartmentofEnergy[UnitedStates]

DREdecentralisedrenewableenergy

EUEuropeanUnion

EU2727MemberStatesoftheEuropeanUnion

FTEfull-timeequivalentGWgigawatt

ILOInternationalLabourOrganizationMWmegawatt

O&Moperationandmaintenance

PVphotovoltaic

REIPPPPRenewableEnergyIndependentPowerProducerProcurementProgramme

(SouthAfrica)

SMEssmallandmedium-sizedenterprises

STEMscience,technology,engineeringand

mathematics

TVETtechnicalandvocationaleducation

andtraining

USEERUSEnergyandEmploymentReport

©QualityStockArts/

7

RENEWABLEENERGYANDJOBSANNUALREVIEW2024

©RossHelen/i

ABOUTTHEIRENA

RENEWABLEENERGYANDJOBSSERIES

Renewableenergydevelopmentnotonlychangesthemixofenergysourcespoweringtheworld’seconomies,butalsocreatesjobs,buildseconomicvalueandenhanceshumanwell-being.TheIRENARenewableenergyandjobsseriesquantifiescurrentemploymentinthesector,examiningdifferentrenewableenergytechnologiesworldwideandinselectedindividualcountries.Theanalysisconsidersavarietyofpublicandprivatesectorpolicycontexts,includingthoserelatedtodeployment,industrialpolicy,skillbuildingandlabourmarketmeasures.Whileavailablequalitativeinformationaboutrenewableenergyjobs,suchaseducation,skillrequirementsandworkforceattributes,remainslimited,theseriesassertsthatdecentjobsareamustforajustandinclusiveenergytransition.

IRENA’s2011policybrief,Renewableenergyjobs:Status,prospects&policies,laidthegroundworkfortheagency’sworkonemployment.Buildingonadditionalstandaloneexplorationsofthetopic(Renewableenergyjobsandaccess,publishedin2012,andRenewableenergyandjobs,in2013),IRENAlaunchedthisannualseriestoprovideregularanddetailedassessmentsofrenewableenergyemploymentworldwide.Eacheditiondiscussesthelatestavailabledataandhighlightsspecificaspects,suchasemploymentintheenergyaccesscontext,thegenderequitydimensionandtherequirementsofajustandinclusivetransition.

TheseriesispartofIRENA’sextensiveanalyticalwork,ongoingsince2011,onthesocio-economicimpactsofarenewables-basedenergytransition,includingemploymentcreation;leveragingofdomesticcapacitiesalongtherenewableenergyvaluechain;women’sparticipationintherenewableenergysector;educationandtrainingneedsandopportunities;andthemodellingoftheimpactonjobs,grossdomesticproductandhumanwelfareofenergytransitionpathwaysto2050.

8

Annualreviewsofemploymentinrenewables

RenewableEnergyandJobs

December2013

2011201220132014201520162017

20182019

20202021

2023

2024

2022

Theagency’spublicationsonrenewableenergyemploymentanditscomprehensiveresearchonsocio-economicimpactscanbeaccessedbyvisiting

/Publications

.

9

KEYNUMBERS

million

16.2

globalrenewableenergyjobsin2023,upfrom13.7millionin2022.Chinaalonehas7.4millionjobs,or46%oftheglobaltotal.TheEuropeanUnion(EU)has1.8millionjobs,Brazil1.6million,andtheUnitedStatesandIndiaeachslightly

morethan1million.

7.1millionsolarphotovoltaic

(PV)jobsin2023,representing44%oftheworld’stotalrenewableenergyworkforce.

Chinadominateswith4.6millionjobs,whiletheEUisadistantsecondwith720000jobs.

2.3milliondirectjobsin

hydropowerin2023,down4%from2022,reflectingaslowerpaceinnewadditions.

2.8millionbiofuelsjobsin

2023.Thebulkisintheagriculturalsupplychain,includingseasonalandpart-timework.Brazil

hasthelargestnumberofjobs,at994000,followedbyIndonesia,at798600.

1.5millionwindpowerjobs

in2023.Chinaleadswith745000jobs,while

second-rankedEurope–stillatechnologyleader–hassome316300jobs.

©sturti/

10

InternationalRenewableEnergyAgency

KEYMESSAGES

THEDOMINANTROLEOFLEADINGCOUNTRIES.

Chinaholdsawideningleadinthedeploymentofrenewablesanddominatesequipment

manufacturing.Othercountries,suchastheUnitedStates,India,BrazilandmembersoftheEU,areimportantinstallers,andtheyseektobuildorrebuilddomesticsupplychainstosupport

greaterdomesticvaluecreation.

SKILLS.Askilledworkforceisessentialforasuccessfulenergytransitionandof

particularsignificanceforyoungpeople.Educationandtrainingdomorethanmakeindividualsmoreemployable.Skillsdevelopmentandlifelonglearningarestrategicimperativesformeetingclimateobjectivesandensuringajusttransition.

DIVERSITY.Womencouldplayapivotalroleinthescalingupofrenewables,

especiallyoff-gridtechnologies.Theexpansionofthesetechnologies–forexample,solarPV

systems,whichsupportentrepreneurship,especiallyinunderservedandremoteareas–canhelpwomenfindemploymentandearnanincome.Beyondgender,verylittleinformationisavailableformostcountriesonindicatorsofworkforcediversity.

APEOPLE-ANDPLANET-CENTRICENERGY

TRANSITION.Theglobaltransitiontocleanenergyisshapedbyamultitudeofpublicpoliciesandprivatesectoractivitiesthat,togetherwithcivilsocietyactions,mustseektobalanceenvironmental,economicandsocialsustainability.Whilemarketscanbehelpfulindrivingtechnologicalchange,theglobalcommongoodisnottheirprimarymotivation;indeed,therearetrade-offsbetweenthepursuitofprofitsandtheobjectiveofajustandinclusive

energytransitionthatprovideswidelysharedbenefits.

11

RENEWABLEENERGYANDJOBSANNUALREVIEW2024

Introduction

DYNAMICSOF

THERENEWABLE

ENERGYINDUSTRY

Renewables-relatedemploymentisshapedbytwomajorfactors:(1)theannualrhythmofglobaldeploymentsofgeneratingcapacityand(2)thedynamicsoftheindustriesthatmanufactureequipment(fromsolarpanelsandwindturbinestohydroelectricturbinesandbiodigesters)andprovideahostofrelatedservices(suchasprojectplanning,permittingandfinancing).

Worldwide,some473gigawatts(GW)ofnewrenewableelectricitygenerationcapacitywereinstalledin2023.Cumulativecapacityreached3865GW,a14%expansionover2022andthelargestannualadditionrecordedtodate(seeFigure1).Arecord347GWofsolarphotovoltaic(PV)capacitywereadded.Withacumulative1411GWofcapacity,solarPVnowexceedsthemoreslowlyexpandinghydropowersector(1265GW).Windpowerranksthirdwith1017GW,ofwhich115GWwereaddedin2023.Theinstalledgeneratingcapacityofallotherrenewableenergytechnologiesaccountsforamuchsmallershare,withbioenergycontributing149GW(IRENA,2024a).

Outsidetheelectricitygenerationsector,cumulativesolarthermalcapacityhadrisento560gigawattsthermalbytheendof2023,correspondingto800millionsquaremetresofcollectorarea.Between2000and2023,thiscapacityexpandedaboutnine-fold,althoughannualadditionsinthelasttenyearsoftheperiodwerelessthanhalfthepeakraterecordedin2013(WeissandSpörk-Dür,2024).Liquidbiofuelproductionreached170billionlitresin2022,upfrom162billionlitresin2021.Ethanolaccountedforclosetotwo-thirdsofthetotal(REN21,2024).

INTRODUCTION

Figure1

Globalrenewableelectricitycapacity,2010-2023

GW

4000

3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0

RENA

InterntionclRenewbleEnerYAency

Othersc

Bioenergya

Solar

photovoltaic

Windenergy

Hydropowerb

20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023

Source:IRENA,2024a.

Notes:PV=photovoltaic.

aIncludesliquidbiofuels,solidbiomassandbiogas.bDirectjobsonly.

c“Others”includesgeothermalenergy,concentratedsolarpower,heatpumps(groundbased),municipalandindustrialwaste,andoceanenergy.

GW

347

ofsolarphotovoltaiccapacitywereaddedin2023.

©Jenson/shutter

13

14

RENEWABLEENERGYANDJOBSANNUALREVIEW2024

Figure2SolarPV(2a)andwind(2b)capacities,Chinaandothertop10countries,plusrestof

theworld:Newadditionsandcumulativecapacitiesasof2023

Additions

4.1%Germany3.5%Brazil

2.8%India1.6%Spain

1.5%Italy

1.2%Netherlands1.2%Japan

1.1%Australia

China

62.8%

UnitedStates7.2%

Allothers13.1%

Cumulative

China

43.2%

UnitedStates

9.8%

Allothers18.9%

6.2%Japan

5.8%Germany5.2%India

2.4%Australia2.1%Italy

2.0%Spain

2.7%Brazil

InternctionclRenewbeEnerYAgency

1.9%Rep.ofKorea

2.4%India

1.7%Sweden

1.7%Netherlands

5.5%UnitedStates4.3%Brazil

2.8%Germany

1.5%Canada

Additions

1.3%Unit.Kingdom1.2%France

China

65.5%

Allothers12.1%

Cumulative

China

43.4%

United

States

14.6%

Allothers16.4%

6.8%Germany4.4%India

3.1%Spain

3.0%Unit.Kingdom2.9%Brazil

2.2%France

1.7%Canada1.6%Sweden

Source:IRENA,2024a.

Note:PV=photovoltaic;Rep.ofKorea=RepublicofKorea;Unit.Kingdom=UnitedKingdom.

15

©Jenson/shutter

INTRODUCTION

Renewableenergyisexpanding

aroundtheworld.

Renewableenergyisexpandingunevenlyaroundtheworld.Chinainvestsfarmoreinrenewablesthananyothercountryorregion.Over2014-2023,ChinainvestedUSD1572billioninrenewableenergy,oralmostthreetimesasmuchastheUnitedStates(USD550billion)andtwiceasmuchasEurope(USD785billion),whilesurpassingotherpartsoftheworldbyevengreatermargins(REN21,2024).

Chinanotonlyleadsasaninstallerofgeneratingcapacitybutisalsothedominantequipmentmanufacturerinthetwomostdynamicrenewableenergysectors,windandsolarPV.Mostothercountriesareonamuchslower,andoftenlesssteady,deploymenttrajectory.In2023,closetotwo-thirdsoftheworld’snewwindandsolarPVcapacity(65.5%and62.8%,respectively)wereinstalledinChina(IRENA,2024a).AsshowninFigure2,Chinanowaccountsforabout43%oftheglobalcumulativecapacityofbothwindandsolarPV–ahugerisefrom2010,whenithelda16%shareofwindandjust2.6%ofsolarPV.Puttingthesepercentagesincontext,theyfarexceedChina’sshareoftheworldpopulation(justunder20%),althoughtheystillfallbelowthecountry’s53%shareofglobalcoal-firedgeneratingcapacity(Russell,2024).

China’scumulativesolarPVcapacityismorethanfourtimesthatoftheUnitedStatesand1.5timesasmuchastherestofthetoptencountries.Similarly,ChinahasthreetimesthewindgeneratingcapacityoftheUnitedStatesandholdsacommandingleadovertherestofthetopten(IRENA,2024a).

RENEWABLEENERGYANDJOBSANNUALREVIEW2024

Iftheenvisagedtriplingofrenewablepowergeneratingcapacityby2030,asendorsedatthe2023UnitedNationsClimateChangeConference(COP28)(COP28,IRENAandGRA,2023),istooccurinageographicallybalancedmanner,countriesotherthanChinawillhavetosignificantlystepuptheirefforts.Theneededaccelerationoftheenergytransitionridesonmuchgreatervolumesofpublicandprivateinvestment,andrequiresgovernmentstoprovidestrongpolicyguidance.

Asarguedinpreviouseditionsofthisreportseries,thehumansideoftheenergytransitionisasessentialasitstechnologicalside.Atrulysuccessfultransitionwillrequireprogrammesandstructurestofacilitatetheskillingofnewworkersandtheupskillingandreskillingofexistingworkersforawidevarietyofoccupations.Toensurebroadpublicacceptanceandsupport,women,youth,communitygroups,organisedlabourandotherstakeholders–suchasminoritiesandothermarginalisedgroups–musthaveanadequatevoiceinshapingthetransition.Atthesametime,thereisaneedtoensurethatindustrialisationinsupportofthetransitionismanagedsustainably.Thismeansnotonlythatpoliciesonrecyclingandreusewillbeneededtoavoidlarge-scalewasteflows,butalsothatworkerswillhavetobeprotectedfromexposuretotoxicmaterials.Theenergytransitionmustbecentredonpeopleandtheplanet.

Greaterinternationalcollaborationisessentialforensuringthatsocio-economicbenefitssuchasjobcreationarewidelyshared,especiallyinmarginalisedregions.Forexample,over2000-2020,Africareceivedaminuscule2%oftheglobe’stotalrenewableenergyinvestmentsofUSD2.8trillion(IRENAandCPI,2023),andthecontinentaccountsforlessthan1%oftheworld’ssolarPVandwindgeneratingcapacities(IRENA,2024a).Therealityisthatdespitehighresourcepotential,energyaccessinAfricaislowandtheneedfordecentjobsispalpable.

©SorosBanjongpian/iS

Thetriplingof

renewablepower

needstohappenina

geographicallybalanced

andplanet-andpeople-

centricmanner.

INTRODUCTION

©LaurenceDutton/

Theremainderofthisreportisorganisedasfollows:Chapter1presentsemploymenttrendsworldwideanddiscussesthembymajortechnology.InadditiontothehighlydynamicsolarPVandwindsectors,itlooksathydropowerandliquidbiofuels,andoffersinsightsonconcentratedsolarpoweranddecentralisedapplicationsofrenewablesandheatpumps.Chapter2providesthelatestfindingsonrenewableenergyjobsintheleadingcountries–China,Brazil,theUnitedStates,IndiaandEUmembers–andofferssnapshotsofseveraladditionalcountriesacrosstheworld.Chapter3discussestheimportanceofskillsforasuccessfulenergytransition.Chapter4concludeswithobservationsontwosets

oftransitionobjectives:thosethatseektoreducecostsandmaximiseprofitsandthoseinspiredbyapeople-andplanet-centredvision.Theobservationsfocusonthejob-relatedimpactsofbothsetsofpolicies.

17

RENEWABLEENERGYANDJOBSANNUALREVIEW2024

RENEWABLEENERGY

EMPLOYMENTWORLDWIDE

BYTECHNOLOGY

CHAPTER

1

ThiseditionoftheInternationalRenewableEnergyAgency’sRenewableEnergyandJobs–AnnualReviewistheeleventhintheseries,andthefourthproducedincollaborationwiththeInternationalLabourOrganization.Itprovidescurrentglobalrenewableenergyemploymentestimates,derivedbyapplyingIRENA’smethodologiesandcalculationstothemostrecentdata,andfromabroadassortmentofreportsandanalysespublishedbygovernmentagencies,industryassociations,non-governmentalorganisationsandacademicresearchers.

Thereportsurveysglobalrenewableenergyemploymentasof2023.1Againstthebackdropofequipmentmanufacturinganddeploymenttrends,industrydynamicsandnationalpolicymaking,itexploresjobnumbersandqualitativeaspectsoftherenewableenergysupplychain.

Theheadlinefindingofthiseditionisthatrenewableenergyemployed16.2millionpeopledirectlyandindirectlyin2023.2Thisnumberrepresentsadramaticrisefrom7.3millionin2012(seeFigure3),withthebiggestcontributionsfromsolarphotovoltaic(PV)installations,windpower,hydropowerandbioenergy.3

1Insomecases,2022isthemostrecentyearforwhichdataareavailable.

2Directemploymentreferstojobsgeneratedbycoreactivities,withoutaccountingforintermediateinputs

necessarytomanufacturerenewableenergyequipment,orconstructandoperatefacilities.Indirect

employmentincludesemploymentintheupstreamindustriesthatsupplyandsupportthecoreactivities

ofrenewableenergydeployment.Workersinsuchpositionsmaybeengagedintheproductionofsteel,

plasticsorothermaterials,orprovidefinancialandotherservices.Theseindustriesarenotdirectlyinvolvedinrenewableenergyactivitiesbutproduceintermediateinputsalongthevaluechainofeachrenewableenergytechnology.Dataareprincipallyfor2023,withsome2022dataandsomeinstanceswhereonlyinformation

fromearlieryearsisavailable.Thedataforhydropowerincludedirectemploymentonly,whereasdataforothertechnologiesincludebothdirectandindirect