This totals the worldwide employment in renewable energy to 12.7 million last year, with 2/3rds being in Asia alone.
Despite the after-effects of the pandemic and the growing energy crisis, as per the Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2022, a jump of 700,000 new jobs were in the sector for the year.
Apart from labour and other costs, domestic market size seems to be the major reason. In 2021, Solar energy provided 4.3 million jobs, making it the fastest growing sector. It also occupies more than a third of the current global workforce in renewable energy.
The new report was published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), during the Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh, USA.
Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General, said: “In the face of numerous challenges, renewable energy jobs remain resilient, and have been proven to be a reliable job creation engine. My advice to governments around the world is to pursue industrial policies that encourage the expansion of decent renewable jobs at home. Spurring a domestic value chain will not only create business opportunities and new jobs for people and local communities. It also bolsters supply chain reliability and contributes to more energy security overall.”
ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, said: “Beyond the numbers, there is a growing focus on the quality of jobs and the conditions of work in renewable energies, to ensure decent and productive employment. The increasing share of female employment suggests that dedicated policies and training can significantly enhance the participation of women in renewable energy occupations, and inclusion and ultimately, achieve a just transition for all. I encourage governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations to remain firmly committed to a sustainable energy transition, which is indispensable for the future of work.”
This totals the worldwide employment in renewable energy to 12.7 million last year, with 2/3rds being in Asia alone. China alone accounts for 42 per cent of the global total, followed by the EU and Brazil with ten per cent each, and the USA and India with seven per cent each.
