Clean energy jobs grow in EU despite skilled labor shortages

Clean energy technologies are driving significant job growth across the European Union, though a shortage of skilled workers threatens to slow future expansion, according to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Employment in the energy sector grew by 2.2% in 2024, outpacing the 1.3% growth seen in the broader global economy.

In the EU, approximately 1.8 million jobs are directly or indirectly linked to renewable energy sources. The wind energy sector accounted for roughly 273,500 direct jobs in 2023, with 77% focused on maintenance, energy contracting, and sales administration rather than manufacturing. Solar photovoltaic technology provided over 227,000 direct jobs, split between system operations and construction-related activities like site preparation and grid connection.

The heat pump sector employed about 80,100 people, primarily in construction, while the battery sector—though the smallest with 33,000 workers—recorded the fastest employment growth between 2018 and 2023. Globally, China leads the sector with seven million clean energy jobs. Within the EU, Germany maintains the highest number of jobs in wind energy, solar technologies, and the battery sector.