Global renewable employment slows amidst rising geoeconomic tensions

China leads with 44% of global employment.

Global renewable energy employment reached 16.6 million jobs in 2024, up 2.3%, despite record capacity additions, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The slowdown was attributed to rising geopolitical and geoeconomic frictions as well as increased automation impacting the workforce.

Jobs remain concentrated in a few countries. China leads with 44% of global employment, followed by the Rest of Asia with 2.47 million jobs, the European Union with 1.8 million, Brazil with 1.38 million, and India with 1.28 million.

Solar photovoltaics remains the largest employer with 7.2 million jobs, followed by biofuels with 2.6 million, hydropower with 2.3 million, and wind with 1.9 million.

China also dominates solar PV employment, accounting for 58% of all jobs due to its leadership in equipment manufacturing.

Globally, the top ten solar PV employers hold 82% of jobs, six of which are located in Asia. Outside these countries, employment is mostly in construction, installation, and operations and maintenance.

On workforce diversity, women hold 32% of full-time jobs in renewables—higher than the 23% in oil and gas, but below the global workforce average of 43%.

Women are primarily employed in administrative roles, with only 19% in senior management positions.

Experts said that top-down and bottom-up strategies, alongside cross-sector initiatives, are needed to overcome systemic barriers limiting women’s leadership and contribution.