• Global renewable energy jobs reached 16.6 million in 2024, IRENA says
• Solar photovoltaics led employment with 7.2 million jobs worldwide
• Africa accounted for about 344,000 renewable energy jobs in 2024

The renewable energy sector employed 16.6 million people worldwide in 2024, according to Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2025, released in early 2026 by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The figure, which includes both direct and indirect jobs, is up from 2023. IRENA said the increase reflects updated estimates for India’s biofuels sector. The report also shows that global renewable energy employment has risen from 7.3 million in 2012 to 16.6 million in 2024.

By technology, solar photovoltaics remained the largest employer, accounting for 7.2 million jobs in 2024. Liquid biofuels followed with 2.63 million, ahead of hydropower (2.26 million) and wind power (1.9 million). Employment in other renewable segments remained relatively small. IRENA added that the figures likely underestimate total employment, partly because informal jobs are difficult to measure.

In Africa, the report estimated 344,000 renewable energy jobs in 2024, a modest share of the global total. While it does not provide a full country breakdown, it highlights selected national examples. In South Africa, 86,531 full-time equivalent jobs were supported, mainly in construction, under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), which has attracted major investment and large-scale renewable projects.

Beyond headline employment figures, the study notes that the energy transition requires a wide range of skills, from component manufacturing to power plant operations. IRENA stressed the importance of public policy, investment decisions, and training strategies to sustain long-term workforce growth, as the global energy system undergoes structural transformation, including in Africa.

Abdoullah Diop