Wind industry needs over 500,000 techs by 2028 to meet goals

Nearly half of these will need to be filled by new entrants.

Around 532,000 new wind technicians are needed by 2028 to meet the rising demand for onshore and offshore wind, according to a new report by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and Global Wind Organisation.

Of these, the Global Wind Workforce Outlook said 40% will need to be filled by new entrants, noting the need for a resilient supply chain of skilled personnel to build and maintain wind fleets. Addressing this problem will require governments to invest in vocational training and support international training standards. 

The report also outlines nine steps policymakers can take to address workforce needs. These include setting workforce targets as part of the national energy policy, introducing education courses based on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and promoting industrial policy and tendering criteria that foster wind installation growth through local jobs.

“Deployment must be accelerated to meet net zero and global renewable targets, meaning it is vital that government and industry work together to build a workforce capable of delivering onshore and offshore wind,” said Ben Backwell, CEO of the GWEC.