Australia needs to almost triple clean energy workforce to achieve 2030 target

Electricians, mechanical trades, and electrical engineers are amongst those needed.

Australia should increase its clean energy workforce from 21,500 to 59,300 to build and operate all the necessary infrastructure needed  to achieve its 82% target for renewable energy share by 2030, according to the Clean Energy Council (CEC).

In its report “The Australian Electricity Workforce for the 2024 Integrated System Plan: Projections to 2050,” CEC said the country’s energy transition currently lacks workers such as electricians, mechanical trades, and electrical engineers. 

“Boom-bust construction cycles create significant risks for labour supply, as does competition for labour between regional areas hosting renewable energy projects and infrastructure projects in major capital cities,” it said.

Most members of the workforce are in construction jobs building new large-scale renewable generation, storage and transmission infrastructure. By 2033, most of the jobs will shift to operations and maintenance, which will continue throughout the 25-year operating life of the assets. 

Aside from large-scale renewables, Australia’s uptake of rooftop solar and distributed batteries will continue to drive demand for workers, CEC said.

“Done right, we can improve diversity and create lasting jobs in regional communities. This requires a deeper understanding of the impacts of the transition on new and transitioning energy communities and co-designed, place-based transition planning that secures a just transition for all involved,” said Julian McCoy, CEC’s senior policy officer - workforce development.