The European Commission’s 10 priorities [1] for 2015-19 include the stimulation of investment and the creation of jobs. Thanks to progress made, the Energy Union project is on track to deliver jobs, growth and investment as part of the EU’s transition to a low-carbon, secure and competitive economy [2]. Clean energy industries are becoming more established and new jobs are being created in the energy sector and the wider economy [3].
The European Commission’s communication on Clean Energy for all Europeans [4], released as part of the Clean Energy Package [5], presents an opportunity to speed up the clean energy transition [6]. In 2016 the renewable energy sector in Europe employed over 1 400 000 [7] people, directly or indirectly, and around one million were employed in the energy efficiency sector. Policies proposed under this package are estimated to create another 700 000 jobs in construction, 230 000 in engineering and 27 000 in the iron and steel sectors, compared with 2014 [3].
Energy innovation requires new talent to address the social and entrepreneurial aspects of changing energy systems. These challenges are significant, especially for those employees who will need to re-skill or even change sector entirely.
This edition of SETIS Magazine takes a closer look at the jobs- and skills-related aspects of the clean energy transition. It examines the monitoring and projection of changes in employment, as well as efforts to identify and resolve skills needs. Renowned experts from the wider international research and policy community assess the state of the art and present the latest findings of the clean energy employment assessment field.
[2]https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/third-report-state-energy-union_en.pdf
[3]While jobs related to the supply of carbon intensive energy sources in the EU decreased by 67 000 from 2008 to 2014, green jobs in the energy sector increased by over 400 000 during the same period (data from Eurostat).
[4]EC Communication (2016) 860: Clean Energy for all Europeans
[5]https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-strategy-and-energy-union/clean-energy-all-europeans
[6]EC Communication (2016) 860: Clean Energy for all Europeans
[7]EurObserv’ER, The State of Renewable Energies in Europe, 17th edition, 2017 (2016 figures)