An interesting article in the report “Renewable energy and jobs: annual review 2023” released from The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) for those of us who work in the PV industry.

This report summarizes employment trends in the global renewable energy sector around the world. The number of people employed in the global renewable energy sector increased from 12.7 million in 2021 to 13.7 million in 2022. The number of employees has nearly doubled compared to 2012.

Employment in China, which has a large share of both industry and market share in the clean energy sector, accounted for 41% of the total. The number of jobs related to photovoltaics was 4.9 million, accounting for about one-third of the total employment in the renewable energy sector.

IRENA also reported that about 40% of full-time workers in the photovoltaic sector are women, almost double the percentage of women in the oil and gas sector. IRENA emphasizes the need to support the career development of youth and minorities through education and training and the need for gender equality in promoting a fair and inclusive energy transition.