The installation of renewable energies continues expanding worldwide. However, that momentum does not translate with the same strength into work. During 2024, green employment grew by just 2.3%.
Thus, the sector reached 16.6 million global jobs. The pace marked an unprecedented slowdown after several years of rapid expansion. This halt reflects geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and the advance of automation.
China and an increasingly unequal labor map
China once again consolidated itself as the dominant player. In 2024, it concentrated 7.3 million jobs, 44% of the global total linked to renewables.
Next is the European Union, with 1.8 million jobs, a stable figure compared to the previous year. Further behind was Brazil, with 1.4 million.
In India and the United States, growth was more moderate, with figures ranging between 1 and 1.3 million jobs.
Solar energy leads, but it’s not enough
By technologies, photovoltaic solar remained the main job generator. In 2024, it added 7.3 million jobs worldwide.
Asia concentrated 75% of those jobs, with China once again leading. This leadership reinforces the gap between producing and consuming regions.
Meanwhile, liquid biofuels took second place, followed by hydroelectric and wind energy.
A transition that needs people, not just technology
The year of greatest growth was 2023, when renewable employment increased by 18%. However, that momentum did not sustain in 2024.
The trend warns that the energy transition is neither automatic nor equitable. Without active policies, technological development does not guarantee social welfare. Additionally, gender and access gaps for people with disabilities persist.
What is green employment and why does it matter?
Green employment includes jobs that contribute to preserving or restoring the environment. It encompasses everything from renewable energies to energy efficiency, recycling, and sustainable mobility.
These jobs generate environmental benefits, but also social and economic ones. They promote stable incomes, reduce emissions, and strengthen local economies. Additionally, they are often linked to innovation, technical training, and territorial development.
The benefits of green employment and its pending challenges
Green employment can be a key tool against inequality. It allows creating opportunities in neglected regions and diversifying productive matrices.
However, its expansion requires investment, training, and international cooperation. Without these pillars, growth will remain concentrated in a few countries. The energy transition, to be fair, needs to accelerate the human pace at the same rate as the technological one.
