Despite renewable energy installations reaching a record high, employment growth in the sector remains subdued. Global renewable energy jobs increased by 2.3 percent from 2023 to reach 16.6 million in 2024, according to the newly released Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2025 by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The report highlights that geopolitical and geoeconomic frictions, along with rising automation across manufacturing and deployment, are increasingly shaping the renewable energy workforce. While clean energy deployment continues to accelerate, job creation is not keeping pace in many regions.
China dominates global renewable energy employment
As in previous years, renewable energy job growth remains uneven across regions. China continues to dominate both renewable power deployment and equipment manufacturing, supported by highly integrated and large-scale supply chains that deliver equipment at highly competitive prices.
In 2024, China accounted for an estimated 7.3 million renewable energy jobs, representing 44 percent of the global total. The European Union followed with 1.8 million jobs, unchanged from 2023. Brazil recorded 1.4 million renewable energy jobs, while India and the United States saw only marginal growth, reaching about 1.3 million and 1.1 million jobs, respectively.
Commenting on the findings, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said renewable energy expansion must place people at the centre of energy and climate strategies. He emphasized the importance of trade and industrial policies that drive investment, strengthen domestic supply chains, and build a skilled workforce. He also noted that international cooperation is essential to support countries lagging in the energy transition and to meet the global goal of tripling renewable power capacity by 2030.
Solar PV leads renewable energy job creation
By technology, solar photovoltaics remains the largest source of renewable energy employment. The sector employed 7.3 million people globally in 2024, driven by rapid installation growth and expanding panel manufacturing capacity. Asia hosted 75 percent of global solar PV jobs, with China alone accounting for 4.2 million positions.
Liquid biofuels ranked second, providing 2.6 million jobs worldwide, with Asia generating 46.5 percent of total employment. Hydropower followed with 2.3 million jobs, while wind energy supported 1.9 million jobs globally.
Inclusion and equity central to a just energy transition
Beyond headline employment figures, the report places strong emphasis on inclusion and equity in the renewable energy workforce. It underscores that a just transition requires deliberate action to ensure women and people with disabilities are not excluded from the clean energy economy. Despite their skills and potential, both groups remain under-represented across much of the sector.
ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo stressed that renewable energy growth must be grounded in dignity, accessibility, and equal opportunity. He highlighted the need for inclusive policy design, accessible training systems, inclusive hiring practices, and workplaces that accommodate diverse needs. According to the ILO, disability inclusion is not only a matter of justice but also critical for building resilient labour markets and sustainable economic growth.
Policy frameworks key to inclusive growth
The report calls for sustained and inclusive policy frameworks that support accessible education, training, and labour market services. It also stresses the importance of giving all stakeholders a voice in policy design, particularly groups that are often sidelined. Eliminating discriminatory practices and outdated social norms is essential if the energy transition is to deliver broad-based economic benefits.
This 12th edition of the Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review forms part of IRENA’s wider analytical work on the socio-economic impacts of the global energy transition. It is the fifth edition developed in collaboration with the ILO, which contributed a dedicated chapter on the inclusion of people with disabilities, reinforcing the central role of decent work in the renewable energy future.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH