Renewable energy and jobs: annual review 2016

This review presents the status of renewable energy employment, both by technology and in selected countries, over the past year. This edition estimates that renewable energy employed 8.1 million people around the world in 2014 (excluding large hydropower). This is a five per cent increase from the number reported the previous year. In addition, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) conducted a second global estimate of large hydropower employment, showing approximately 1.3 million direct jobs in the sector. While the growth in jobs slowed down compared to previous years, the total number of jobs in renewables worldwide continued to rise, in stark contrast with depressed labour markets in the broader energy sector. Countries with the highest number of renewable energy jobs were China, Brazil, the United States, India, Japan and Germany.

Solar PV was the largest renewable energy employer with 2.8 million jobs worldwide, an 11 per cent increase over 2014. Solar PV employment grew in Japan and the United States, stabilised in China, and continued decreasing in the European Union. Wind power witnessed a record growth year. Strong installation rates in China, the United States and Germany resulted in a five per cent increase in global employment, to reach 1.1 million jobs. IRENA's early research indicates that the renewable energy features more gender parity than the broader energy sector.

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