The global energy sector has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing employment frontier, driven by rising demand for clean power, grid expansion and renewed investment in conventional energy systems.
A new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows global energy employment rose to 76 million jobs in 2024, growing nearly twice as fast as the wider global economy. More than five million jobs have been added since 2019, largely in power systems, clean-energy manufacturing and electricity grids.
Solar energy remains the biggest source of new jobs, while nuclear power, storage technologies and grid upgrades continue to expand. Electric vehicle and battery manufacturing has also surged, adding close to 800,000 jobs as transport electrification accelerates.
Fossil fuel jobs have shown resilience, with coal employment rebounding and oil and gas roles recovering most pandemic-era losses.
However, the IEA warns that severe skills shortages threaten future growth. More than half of surveyed employers report difficulty finding trained electricians, engineers and technicians, a challenge worsened by ageing workforces. The agency calls for urgent investment in training and reskilling to sustain momentum.
