Clean energy drives global employment growth: key insights from the World Energy Employment 2024

Since its inaugural edition in 2022, Enel Foundation has annually supported the World Energy Employment (WEE) report series by the International Energy Agency (IEA), providing its analytical contribution to the study of global energy workforce dynamics. Based on these reports, a scientific and peer-reviewed article - authored by Mirko Armiento and Maria Lelli, together with colleagues from the IEA - has recently been published with Springer Nature in the Discover Sustainability journal.

On November 13^th IEA launched the third edition of the WEE, the World Energy Employment 2024 (WEE2024) that underscores the transformative impact of clean energy on global employment. In 2023 alone, 1.5 million new jobs were created, bringing the total energy workforce to 67.5 million. The power sector has been a key driver of this growth, with over 21 million employed in 2023 and more than 75% of those roles linked to clean energy technologies such as solar PV, wind, and grids. Looking ahead, the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario envisages 28 million new clean energy jobs by 2030, and even more conservative forecasts estimate at least 9 million additional jobs.

Innovation, digitalization, and artificial intelligence are highlighted as pivotal in unlocking non-linear career paths. A compelling example is Enel Green Power’s RoBoost program, which has successfully retrained former thermal plant workers as drone operators for renewable energy plants.

Read the WEE2024 report here and watch a short video from the launch event, showing the main highlights from Laura Cozzi, Director of Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks at IEA and also President of the Enel Foundation Scientific Committee.