Breakdown of Renewable Energy Jobs Around the World

There is a vast and growing workforce associated with renewable energy. The meteoric growth of these clean sources of energy will only continue as we approach the deadline for an international climate agreement that is certain to limit greenhouse gas production. To meet targets that will be put forth in this agreement we will need to transition away from fossil fuels and ramp-up an already fast moving renewable energy sector.

According to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) the industry currently employs 5.7M people. Most of the jobs are in China, the EU, Brazil, US and India. Here is a quick summary of the number of jobs in each of the top three nations as well international forecasts for the future :

China

China is the world leader in renewable energy jobs and currently has 1.74M people working in the sector. This represents one in three renewable energy jobs around the world. Most of China's renewable employment is in the solar.

Brazil

Brazil ranks second and has 14% of all renewable jobs around the world. The nation currently employs 833K people in renewables out of which 804K are in biofuels and the remainder are mostly in wind.

US

The US ranks third with 620K people working in the sector.

The Future

The future for renewable energy jobs looks very promising. According to the IRENA report, with favorable policies bioenergy will add 9.7M jobs by 2030. Wind is expected to add 2.1M jobs and solar energy is expected to generate another 2M, all in the same period.

Overall renewable energy has the potential to add an additional 11M new jobs between now and 2030; so in fact employment in the renewable energy sector is expected to be around 16.7M positions in 2030. 

To see the IRENA report click here.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Event - Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference

Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference, will take place on February 10 - 11, 2014, in Washington, D.C. This year’s Conference is focused on repairing the systems Americans rely on every day, whether getting us back and forth to work, supplying our power, keeping us safe from storms and floods, communicating with police and fire during emergencies, or ensuring the institutions where our children learn are safe and healthy.

It's time to repair these systems today to create quality, family-sustaining jobs, to address the threat of climate change, and to ensure the health and safety of our workplaces and our communities.

Join thousands of business and community leaders, union members, and environmentalists at Good Jobs, Green Jobs 2014 and take up the call to Repair America.

To register click here.

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Event - Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference

This event will take place on February 10 - 11, 2014 in Washington, DC.  This year’s Conference is focused on repairing the systems Americans rely on every day, whether getting us back and forth to work, supplying our power, keeping us safe from storms and floods, communicating with police and fire during emergencies, or ensuring the institutions where our children learn are safe and healthy. It's time to repair these systems today to create quality, family-sustaining jobs, to address the threat of climate change, and to ensure the health and safety of our workplaces and our communities. Join thousands of business and community leaders, union members, and environmentalists at Good Jobs, Green Jobs 2014 and take up the call to Repair America.

Click here for more information.

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Event (Symposium) Green Growth, Green Jobs: Integrating Employment and Environmental Policies Across Europe

This symposium will take place on 29 January 2014, from 10:00am - 4:30pm at NH Hotel du Grand Sablon in Brussels. In the EU, more than 20 million jobs are already linked to the environment and the figure will increase as the EU continues its commitment to growing the economy while protecting natural resources.

A key objective of Europe 2020, the strategy for growth and jobs, is to address the need for sustainable and inclusive growth through the promotion of a competitive and greener economy in the EU. As part of the strategy, the EU has committed to offer its support to businesses so they can achieve the shift to a greener economy whilst remaining competitive on the global stage.

This timely international symposium provides an invaluable opportunity for delegates to examine the future of green growth in Europe by focusing on its economic, social and financial aspects. Delegates will explore how future skills-needs can be better anticipated to suit the market and how the green economy can be boosted by investing in green technologies and eco-innovation.

It will support the exchange of ideas and encourage delegates to engage in thought-provoking topical debate. Public Policy Exchange welcomes the participation of all key partners, responsible authorities and stakeholders.

This symposium will proved opportunities to:

•Discuss the future of green jobs in the EU and the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy in Member States,
•Assess the impact of green growth on the job market and the creation of new jobs and skills in line with green technologies,
•Analyse investments and funding opportunities to promote the green transition in Europe,
•Examine eco-innovation projects and explore green growth opportunities across Member States,
•Share best practices on the promotion of green jobs and professional training.

Discussions will be led by representatives from the European Commission, from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), from EUROCHAMBRES, from the European Climate Foundation and from the Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production.

Small Business Federations, Chambers of Commerce, Social Funds, Environmental Associations, Training Managers, Recruitment Advisers, Organisational Development Professionals, Institutes for Occupational Health, Institutes for Training and Employment, and Trade Unions, among others, are expected to participate.

For more information and to register click here.

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Infographic - New US Clean Energy Jobs by State in Q3

Source: Environmental Entrepreneurs

According to the new report "Clean Energy Works For Us: Q3 2013," more than 80 clean energy and clean transportation projects have been launched in the third quarter of this year and together they could create more than 15,000 jobs. Top states included California, Nevada, New York, Michigan, and Texas. States in the Southeast also posted strong numbers, though North Carolina lagged compared to its neighbors. Nationally, renewable power generation is expected to create 6,700 jobs — more than any other sector E2 tracked this quarter.

For a detailed breakdown of how your region fares click here.

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Report - Sustainability Career Paths: How To Become A Leader

Corporate sustainability leadership positions are becoming more common, but as the profession is still in its youth, career paths within the field are unclear to most practitioners. This report, written by Verdantix in partnership with GACSO (Global Association of Corporate Sustainability Officers), helps sustainability professionals to understand the stepping stones to the top, and helps those looking to enter the profession to understand entry points and how to progress.


Click here to register for access to this report.

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Green Economy Guide for Women

A manual from the Department of Labor offers guidance to women interested in entering the green workforce. The guide is entitled, "Why Green Is Your Color: A Woman's Guide to a Sustainable Career." Currently green jobs are largely dominated by men but there are many opportunties for women. The guide is a comprehensive manual designed to assist women with job training and career development as they enter into innovative and nontraditional jobs.

The report was produced to support Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis’s vision of “Good Jobs for Everyone.” The green jobs guide is designed to help women learn about the opportunities available in the renewable energy space, which they may not have previously considered.

The guide also provides vulnerable women a pathway to higher paying jobs, and serves as a tool to help fight job segregation. It offers women resources and information they need to enter and succeed in jobs in the emerging green economy. The guide was created to help women at all stages of their careers — whether they are newly entering the workforce, transitioning to new careers, or returning to the workforce — identify and take advantage of opportunities in the clean energy economy.

The guide will also help training providers, educators, counselors, and other workforce development professionals promote the recruitment and retention of women in green career paths.

Download the manual:
PDF version
HTML version

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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WAGE: Women and the Green Economy

To accelerate and provide the new thinking and creative power for a global post-carbon economy, Earth Day Network is engaging women business, government and NGO leaders in its “Women and the Green Economy” (WAGE®) Campaign. WAGE® is working today to create a policy agenda for Rio+20 and generate relevant national initiatives that will promote the green economy, secure educational and job training opportunities for women and channel green investment to benefit women.

WAGE® was launched at the UNFCCC 16th Conference of the Parties in Cancun, Mexico in December, 2010. The WAGE® Campaign is actively creating a road map for women to aggregate their power and promote their leadership in creating a sustainable green economy and mitigating climate change.

Earth Day Network created WAGE® in view of the following facts:

• Women constitute more than half of the world’s population
• Women make 85 percent of all consumer choices
• Women are rising to key positions of power
• Women can lead the way to a sustainable green economy

Together, our most talented and successful women can fast-forward the green economy.

To go to the WAGE site click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Renewable Energy Education for Women

Ecotech Institute, a pioneer college dedicated to renewable energy and sustainability, offers a great environment for women to train for careers in renwable energy. On February 16th, Ecotech held a Women in Renewable Energy meeting to bring together women at the campus to “share ideas, help each other with classwork and empower one another as they embark on a green career.”

"We are focused on making Ecotech a welcoming environment for women because we know they have a lot to offer in current and emerging green careers," said Susan Pawlak, Ecotech's Director of Career Services. "Our Women in Renewable Energy Club is just one way that Ecotech encourages women to make a mark in wind, solar, renewable energy and other industries alongside their male colleagues."

The institution says that an increasing number of women are interested in pursuing a career in green businesses.

The Labor Department states that according to The National Center for O*NET Development, several green occupations are “Bright Outlook” occupations, meaning they are expected to grow rapidly from 2008 – 2018, with a combined increase of 100,000 or more job openings. Some jobs designated as “Bright Outlook” are wind turbine service technicians, solar photovoltaic installers and recycling coordinators.

Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America's workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, the college offers seven associate's degrees and a certificate program designed by experts in the industry for people seeking careers in the emerging cleantech economy. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America.

To learn more about Ecotech Institute click here or call 877-326-5576.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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