Renewable Energy Jobs Reach New High but Growth Slows as Automation Rises

Renewable Energy Jobs Reach New High but Growth Slows as Automation Rises

January 14, 2026

Global employment in the renewable energy sector climbed to about 16.6 million jobs in 2024, marking the highest total on record, but the rate of growth has slowed significantly as automation and productivity improvements reduce the number of workers needed per unit of new capacity added, according to the Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2025 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency and the International Labour Organization. 

The report shows that while renewable power capacity expanded sharply with a record 582 GW of new installations in 2024 employment grew by only around 2.3 % compared with 2023, as advances in automation and large-scale project designs lowered labor intensity. China continued to dominate both deployment and jobs, generating roughly 7.3 million renewable energy jobs, about 44 % of the global total, while the European Union and Brazil maintained steady employment levels around 1.8 million and 1.4 million jobs respectively.

Employment in India’s renewables industry rose modestly to around 1.3 million workers, and the United States saw its renewable workforce increase to about 1.1 million, but both markets reflected the broader global trend of slowing job growth. Solar energy remained the largest employer worldwide with an estimated 7.2–7.3 million jobs, largely concentrated in Asia.

The report warns that concentrated supply chains and increased use of automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics are contributing to volatility in manufacturing employment, even as technology costs fall and capacity continues to grow. Skills shortages and workforce inclusion challenges, such as low representation of women in technical roles, also threaten future job quality and growth. 

Looking ahead, IRENA modelling suggests that if countries pursue ambitious climate and industrial policies, renewable energy employment could reach around 30 million by 2030 and nearly 40 million by 2050, but achieving these figures will require policies to support skills training, supply-chain diversification, and fair labour practices.