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

Employment in the global energy sector is expanding at a rate that outpaces the broader economy. It grew by 2.2% in 2024 against 1.3% growth in employment across the economy as a whole. The EU ranks third globally, after China and the rest of Asia, with a total of 1.8 million jobs directly or indirectly linked to renewable energy (China accounts for 7 million jobs in the clean energy sector), according to the International Renewable energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The EEA report, Clean energy technologies in the European Union — implications for quality jobs, skills and a just transition, examines employment across four clean energy technologies — wind, solar photovoltaic, heat pumps and batteries — together employing hundreds of thousands of workers across the EU.