Jobs of the future · 6 min read
What green jobs will there be in the future?
Solar and wind technicians top US growth projections, and energy employers report skills shortages in grids and installation. Many routes skip a degree.
The short answer
Clean energy is one of the clearest areas of job growth. The International Energy Agency counted about 76 million energy-sector jobs worldwide in 2024, with growth concentrated in electricity, and 60% of energy companies it surveyed reported labour shortages, especially in grids and skilled trades. In US projections to 2035, solar photovoltaic installers (about 37%) and wind turbine service technicians (about 30%) are among the fastest-growing occupations. Many of these jobs need technical training or an apprenticeship rather than a degree.
On this page 4 sections
Where the jobs are
| Area | Example roles | Typical route |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Solar installer, heat pump installer | Short course plus on-the-job training |
| Maintenance | Wind turbine technician, battery technician | Technical certificate or apprenticeship |
| Grid | Electrician, line worker, grid coordinator | Apprenticeship |
| Buildings | Energy retrofit assessor, building surveyor | Short accreditation or degree |
| Office | Project manager, procurement, policy analyst | Transferable experience |
What the IEA found
The IEA's World Energy Employment 2025 report put global energy employment at about 76 million in 2024, up more than 5 million since 2019. Electricity, which covers generation, grids and storage, accounted for much of that growth. In its company survey, 60% reported labour shortages, with nuclear and grid work among the hardest to fill.
How to choose between them
- Like working outdoors and at height? Wind and solar.
- Like fixing things and solving faults? Maintenance and battery work.
- Like talking to homeowners and explaining options? Retrofit assessment.
- Like plans, budgets and suppliers? Project and procurement roles.
Questions people ask
- Which green jobs are in most demand?
- Electricians, grid and line workers, solar installers, wind technicians, heat pump and HVAC installers, and energy efficiency assessors. Shortages are sharpest in skilled hands-on roles.
- Do I need a science degree for a green job?
- No. Many roles need technical training or an apprenticeship. Office-based roles in project management, procurement, policy and communications also exist in clean energy companies.
- Are green jobs well paid?
- It varies by role, country and experience, and training years usually pay less. Check the pay section of the BLS Handbook page, or your country's equivalent, for the specific role you're considering.
- Is clean energy growth at risk from politics?
- Policy changes can slow or speed growth in particular countries and technologies. The IEA notes that a slower energy transition would mean fewer energy jobs than faster implementation would. Grid and electrical skills are useful under most scenarios.
- How do I try green work before retraining?
- Do a home energy walk-through with a free checklist, shadow an installer for a day, or volunteer with a local energy or retrofit group.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- World Energy Employment 2025 · International Energy Agency
- Energy employment has surged, but growing skills shortages threaten future momentum · International Energy Agency
- Fastest growing occupations · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.