Renewable energy jobs hit 12.7 million globally

Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2022 identifies domestic market size as a major factor influencing employment generation in renewables, along with labour and other costs. Solar energy was found to be the fastest-growing sector. In 2021 it provided 4.3 million jobs, more than a third of the current global workforce in renewable energy.

The new report was published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), during the Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh, USA.

With rising concerns about climate change, COVID-19 recovery and supply chain disruption, national interest is growing in localizing supply chains and creating jobs at home. The report describes how strong domestic markets are key to anchoring a drive toward clean energy industrialization. Developing renewable technology export capabilities is also dependent on this, it adds.

However there are some cases in which an occupational health assessment is used to determine your ability to work, and can be taken as part of the application process for certain jobs. But this is the rarity, so unless they state that during the application process, you can assume that occupational health assessments are to protect you as an employee rather than test your fitness for work.

Francesco La Camera, IRENA