IRENA: More than 7.7 mln people work in renewables sector

IRENA’s new report estimates that 7.7 million people have been employed in renewable energy sector in 2014.

The report ‘Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2015’ indicates an increase of 18 percent in renewable energy sector employment from the last year’s figure of 6.5 million.

According to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the 10 countries with the largest renewable energy jobs share are China, Brazil, the United States, India, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, France, Bangladesh and Colombia.

European Union and the United States now represent 25 percent of global renewable energy jobs, compared to 31 percent in 2012, in contrast to Asia, where the jobs in renewable energy sector are increasing, it is stated in IRENA’s press release.

Adnan Amin, IRENA’s General Director, said: “Renewable energy continues to assert itself as a major global employer, generating strong economic and social benefits worldwide. This increase is being driven, in part, by declining renewable energy technology costs, which creates more jobs in installation, operations and maintenance. We expect this upward trend to continue as the business case for renewable energy continues to strengthen.”

Amin added that IRENA estimates that doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030 would result in more than 16 million jobs worldwide.

IRENA is an intergovernmental organization made up from 140 members (139 states and the European Union) that promotes the adoption and sustainable use of renewable energy.

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Image: IRENA/Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2015