The renewable energy sector experienced significant growth in 2023, with the number of jobs rising from 13.7 million in 2022 to 16.2 million.
That’s according to the newly released Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2024 by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organization.
China led with an estimated 7.4 million renewable energy jobs, representing 46% of the global total.
The EU followed with 1.8 million jobs, while Brazil had 1.56 million.
The US and India each contributed nearly one million jobs.
The strongest growth was seen in the solar photovoltaics sector, which accounted for 7.2 million jobs globally, with 4.6 million jobs located in China.
Southeast Asia has emerged as a significant hub for solar PV exports, benefiting from Chinese investments.
Liquid biofuels followed in job creation, with Brazil producing one third of the world’s 2.8 million jobs in this sector.
Indonesia also saw growth in biofuels, contributing a quarter of global jobs.
The hydropower sector did not follow the overall trend, with jobs decreasing from 2.5 million in 2022 to 2.3 million in 2023.
China, India, Brazil, Vietnam and Pakistan remained the largest employers in hydropower.
The wind sector remains dominated by China and Europe, which accounted for 52% and 21% of the global total of 1.5 million jobs, respectively.
Despite the potential for renewable energy in Africa, the continent attracted a small share of global investments, translating to 324,000 renewable energy jobs in 2023.
Francesco La Camera, IRENA Director-General, said: “The story of the energy transition and its socio-economic gains should not be about one or two regions.
“If we are all to fulfil our collective pledge to triple renewable power capacity by 2030, the world must step up its game and support marginalised regions in addressing barriers impeding their transitions progress.”
