The worldwide shift towards clean energy is changing the job market, making the energy sector one of the fastest-growing areas for employment.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), jobs in energy are increasing at a rate nearly double that of the overall global economy.
The IEA noted in its 2025 World Energy Employment report that a significant investment in energy infrastructure led to a 2.2 percent growth in energy jobs last year, which is almost twice the growth seen in other sectors.
As of 2024, there are 76 million jobs in the global energy sector, adding over five million positions since 2019.
This growth is largely driven by investments in power systems, upgrades to the grid, and the manufacturing of clean energy technologies.
The IEA also reported that the energy sector was responsible for 2.4 percent of all new jobs created globally in the past five years.
Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the IEA, pointed out that energy remains a strong driver of job creation, even during challenging economic times.
The power sector is at the forefront of this growth, providing three-quarters of all new jobs, and has surpassed fuel supply as the largest employer in the energy field this past year.
Solar power continues to be the leading source of new job opportunities, along with significant hiring in nuclear, electricity grids, and energy storage.
Additionally, quick electrification in sectors like transport has increased jobs in electric vehicle and battery production by almost 800,000.
Jobs in fossil fuels also show strength, with coal employment making a comeback.
The coal industry now has eight percent more workers than in 2019, despite declines in more developed economies.
Roles in oil and gas have bounced back from most losses seen in 2020. However, layoffs have happened again in 2025 due to lower prices and economic worries.
Early signs indicate that job growth in energy may slow to 1.3 percent this year because of tough labor markets and political tensions.
The report also warns that the growth of this sector is at risk.
More than half of those surveyed, including companies and training institutions, reported serious shortages of skilled workers, especially in technical jobs like electricians and engineer roles.
Since 2019, these technical roles have created 2.5 million jobs and now make up more than half of the energy workforce.
Birol emphasized that the future of energy infrastructure relies on having enough trained workers.
He urged that governments, industries, and educational institutions must collaborate to bridge the skills gap. If not addressed, these shortages could hinder progress and impact energy security.
Another challenge is the aging workforce.
In advanced economies, there are 2.4 energy workers nearing retirement for every new worker under the age of 25, a situation particularly severe in the nuclear and grid professions.
Without immediate action, the number of skilled workers entering the field will continue to fall short of demand.
The IEA estimates that to avoid a widening skills gap by 2030, there would need to be a 40 percent increase in new workers, requiring an additional $2.6 billion annually for training programs.
The agency calls for stronger policies to enhance training facilities and access to energy-related skill programs.
Challenges like financial costs, low awareness, and opportunities missed due to wages are key reasons why potential trainees may not pursue qualifications in energy.
The report emphasizes the importance of financial incentives, increased apprenticeships, better training designs in collaboration with industry, and updated facilities as essential measures.
Additionally, programs to retrain workers from declining fossil fuel industries to growing sectors in the energy landscape are necessary.
