16.6 Million People Work In Renewable Energy?

Support CleanTechnica’s work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe.


Or support our Kickstarter campaign!

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has just published a report about renewable energy jobs: Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2025.

What really jumps out is the fact that about 16.6 million people worked in renewable energy jobs last year. “At least 16.6 million people were directly or indirectly employed in the renewable energy industry in 2024 — the highest level of employment recorded globally to date.”

This number is huge and proves a simple fact that may be overlooked by many: Renewable energy is not only about the environment. It also supports millions of people who work to install, maintain, and repair the cleanest energy systems. The IRENA report also notes that the total number of people employed is at its peak, it has never been higher.

It may be important to note the record level of people employed by renewable energy to get more people to understand that renewable energy touches the lives of so many people directly, and a far greater number of people who benefit from it. Renewable energy is better for people and all life forms on this planet because fossil fuels cause so much harm and destruction, but it’s also great for our economy.

There is a saying or phrase used commonly by some — “jobs or the environment” — but this is a false statement and phrasing. Renewable energy supports a huge number of jobs and the people who do them. It is also far better for human health. So, when it comes to renewable energy, the phrase needs to be amended to “jobs and the environment.”

Here is the renewable energy employment breakdown in millions of jobs:

• Solar power: 7.2
• Biofuels: 2.6
• Hydropower: 2.3
• Wind power: 1.9
• Solid biomass: 0.7
• Solar heating/cooling: 0.6
• Heat pumps: 0.4
• Biogas: 0.3
• Geothermal: 0.2
• Concentrating solar power: 0.1

To anyone who follows renewable energy, it is not surprising that most of these jobs, when considered by nation, are in China, followed by the rest of Asia, the European Union, Brazil, India, the US, and then the rest of the world.

Renewable energy might seem as though it is about the environment only, and yet it actually is both economical and supports millions of good jobs that pay a reasonable wage. These wages are used by adults who work in renewable energy to buy food, pay rent or mortgages, buy vehicles or ride public transportation, have savings, have investments, and support their families.

As the report noted, “The people who work in renewable energy represent the key to a successful energy transition. Education and training are essential, and must rapidly adapt to provide the skills and competencies required by the future energy workforce. Equal access to training and career progression should be afforded to all.”

Climate change and toxic pollution are urgent problems that need to be solved as quickly as possible.