Clean energy technologies in the European Union - Implications for quality jobs, skills and a just transition

Clean energy technologies are creating hundreds of thousands of jobs across the EU, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). Global energy sector employment is growing faster than the wider economy, up 2,2% in 2024 compared to 1,3% economy-wide, with the EU now ranking second worldwide after China for renewable energy jobs, with 1.8 million positions linked directly or indirectly to the sector.

Where the jobs are

The report examines employment across four technologies. Wind energy is the largest employer, with an estimated 273 500 direct jobs in 2023, mostly in maintenance and operations. Solar PV employed over 227 000 people, while the heat pump sector supported around 80 100 jobs, with strong potential for further growth. The battery sector remains smaller, at roughly 33 000 workers, but has seen the fastest employment growth of the four since 2018.

Employment is unevenly distributed across the EU. Germany leads in absolute numbers for wind, solar PV and battery jobs, while Portugal, Spain and Italy lead in heat pump employment, and Hungary and Poland show the fastest growth in battery jobs. The report warns that this concentration could deepen regional disparities without policies to broaden participation.

Growth without full inclusion

The report finds that job growth isn't yet translating into inclusive labour markets. Women's participation ranges from just 14% in heat pumps to 26% in wind and batteries, while young workers aged 15-24 made up only 6-7% of the workforce across wind, solar PV and heat pumps in 2023. Skill shortages remain a widespread concern, with most Member States reporting gaps in technical installation and construction roles.

Job quality also varies significantly: wages in the heat pump sector run around 40% lower than in wind, the best-paid of the four sectors, while construction and installation roles tend to be more project-based.

The report calls for coordinated policy action to expand training and reskilling, alongside improvements in job quality, to attract and retain workers in a sector facing acute shortages.