Solar Jobs Lead Clean Energy With 43% of Global Workforce

The solar industry has become the world's largest renewable energy employer, accounting for over 43% of all clean energy jobs globally as of 2024.

The latest Renewable Energy and Jobs report reveals that solar photovoltaics employs more workers than any other renewable technology, far ahead of biofuels at 15.6% and hydropower at 13.8%. This employment boom shows the energy transition isn't just about technology. It's about people building new careers and communities.

The report emphasizes something often overlooked in climate discussions: workers make the energy transition possible. From engineers to installers to maintenance crews, millions of people are earning livelihoods while helping power a cleaner future.

Countries are finding different paths to solar job creation. India has invested heavily in local manufacturing, building solar module capacity exceeding 110 GW annually by late 2025. Brazil took another approach, importing affordable panels from China and creating thousands of small installation companies that put solar on over one million rooftops in 2024 alone.

Brazil's example proves you don't need massive manufacturing plants to create jobs. Most employment happens where panels get installed because that's where the real work occurs: engineering, transportation, land preparation, installation, maintenance, and grid connection.

The Bright Side

While overall renewable job growth slowed to 2.5% in 2024 compared to previous years' double-digit gains, this reflects an industry maturing rather than shrinking. Grid infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with demand, meaning thousands of solar projects are waiting to connect. That's not a failure. It's a sign that clean energy is growing faster than the old system can handle.

The slowdown also stems from solar manufacturing capacity more than doubling in 2024, making panels incredibly cheap. Lower prices mean solar becomes accessible to more people and businesses, even if it temporarily squeezes manufacturers.

The report stresses that education and training programs are essential for building a capable energy transition workforce. As the industry matures, upskilling and reskilling workers will ensure everyone can participate in this economic transformation.

China continues leading global renewable employment, but other regions are catching up through different strategies. The diversity of approaches shows there's no single path to creating clean energy jobs.

The human side of renewable energy often gets lost in discussions about technology costs and market dynamics, but it's workers who turn ambitious climate goals into working solar farms and rooftop installations.

The solar job boom proves the energy transition can deliver both environmental and economic wins, creating millions of opportunities while powering a cleaner future for everyone.