The renewable energy sector employed at least 11.5 million people, directly and indirectly, in 2019. Renewable energy employment has continued to grow worldwide since 2012, when the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) began to assess it on an annual basis.

As the renewable energy workforce continues to expand, education and training along with reskilling and upskilling rises in importance.

Because of its multi-disciplinary nature, the renewable energy field exerts an appeal on women that the fossil fuel industry has lacked.

As important as it is to shed light on the quantity of jobs created in renewable energy, job quality must be examined as well.

The adoption of off-grid renewable energy solutions, including stand-alone systems and mini-grids, has grown tremendously over the past few years.

The transition will bring about a profound change in labour patterns, producing significant misalignments in all regions.

Growth in renewable energy jobs helps to achieve not only SDG 8 which is to “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all” but is also linked to many other aspects of sustainable development such as poverty reduction, clean energy and climate action.

The pandemic-triggered lockdowns that have had a major impact on employment in many sectors of the economy.