
After a record year, EU solar labor market braces for stagnation in 2024
By the end of 2023, the EU solar sector employed 826,000 workers, reflecting a 27% increase compared to 2022. This surge was driven by a record 50% growth in the annual solar market, with over 60 GW of new capacity installed.
However, SolarPower Europe's latest EU Solar Jobs report warns that this impressive growth is expected to stall in 2024. The report projects a mere 0.4% increase in solar employment this year, primarily due to a slowdown in the rooftop solar market. Despite a 27% job number growth in 2023, slower solar deployment and a challenged manufacturing sector limit the growth of the solar workforce from 826,000 in 2023, to 830,000 in 2024.
The pause in workforce growth is due to slowing solar installations, as the impacts of the energy crisis are lessened, and the roll out of solar is hampered by limited flexibility in the system, SolarPower Europe says. At the upstream end of the value chain, European solar manufacturing has been facing significant challenges in the last 12 months, leading to production pauses and workforce reduction.
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe explains that "solar can offer more than 1 million workers a meaningful, quality career in their local communities. These job opportunities can’t be taken for granted. We urge the new EU leadership to improve regulatory conditions to add more solar, support EU solar manufacturers, and develop Europe’s strategy around solar skills.”
Germany becomes Europe's largest solar workforce, surpassing Poland
At the national level, Germany has experienced significant growth in its solar workforce, now the largest in Europe with 154,000 workers. This surge mirrors the 104% growth in its solar market between 2022 and 2023. Poland, previously the leader, has fallen to second place with 113,000 workers as its employment-intensive residential market has slowed. Spain ranks third, with a focus on large-scale utility sectors that provide more gigawatt capacity with fewer workers.
To ensure the solar workforce remains equipped to support the continent’s decarbonization efforts in the latter half of the decade, the EU Solar Jobs Report outlines several policy recommendations:
- Assessing the exact need for workers and skillsets at national level.
- Creating a pan-renewable energy career path.
- Including an electrification skills strategy under the upcoming EU Electrification Action Plan.
- Boosting the visibility and allure of STEM education and careers.
- Retraining workers from legacy-fossil industries.
- Supporting the circulation of skills in Europe.
- Developing solar-specific training within electrical professional training.
Comentarios
Sé el primero en comentar...