Sustainable Careers on the Rise: In-Demand Jobs Shaping Europe’s Green Economy

According to the IEA, over 65 million people were employed in the energy sector in 2019, which accounted to around 2% of the global workforce. June 2023 was recorded as the hottest June ever, globally. If EU is looking to becoming a greener continent and meet their climate target, they will be needing many more skilled workers. According to the world economic forum, in order to tackle the climate change, the EU continent needs nothing short of a green skills revolution.

EU’s commitment towards green growth and creating more sustainable jobs will position the continent as a torchbearer for the global economies.

In September 2022, IEA had published the World Energy Employment report, which revealed some interesting findings about the distribution of the global energy workforce.

One key finding, regarding the green energy sector, was that about half of the global workforce was already employed in the clean energy sector. In the EU, the number had already surpassed 50%. The reason for this shift was driven by the fact that energy infrastructure-intensive industry with low operating costs.

Some of the highlights of EU’s contribution to clean energy are-

• EU’s €1.8 trillion package is the foundation to address Europe’s climate transition by becoming the world’s first continent to hit net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
• The European Green New Deal’s objective to create jobs is fully aligned with numerous key projects attracting investments.

Current job requirement statistics in EU in the energy sector

• WEF estimates that to achieve the goal of hitting net zero carbon emissions, around 18 million people will have to be upskilled in solar and wind energy sector.

• Solar employment in the EU rose by over 30% in the year 2022. By 2030, the solar sector alone will require more than one million workers.

• EU is looking to hire over half a million wind technicians by 2026 to perform tasks like installing, operating and maintaining onshore and offshore wind turbines globally.

• Technicians, overall, can be expecting a lot of job opportunities surrounding them from the clean energy sector.

• Data analysts with coding skills also seem to have a market.

EU’s commitment to transition to net zero has put them in a position where they are looking for candidates with new skills across a wide range of industries including construction.

McKinsey, long ago, much before the pandemic hit, had predicted that EU’s transition would result in an estimated 11 million jobs.

Overall, those with skills to work in the green economy will have a ton of opportunities coming towards them.

In demand- Jobs in the Renewable Energy sector in Europe

1. Engineering and other technical positions

Engineers are always going to be in-demand because of their nature of knowledge. In the green energy sector, development and maintenance of infrastructure are the fundamental needs. Whether it is designing of solar photovoltaic systems or optimization of efficiency in wind turbines, you cannot get by without engineers and technicians.

A significant job role in the sector is

Renewable energy engineer– Under this there are many other roles you could fit into like

• solar panel installer
• wind turbine technician
• safety engineer
• advanced solar panel developer
• Quality analysts

From designing and implanting innovative solutions to developing advanced solar panels and wind turbines, there are a wide range of job roles open.

2. Project management and development roles

From planning to execution of renewable energy projects, projects managers and development specialists are the ones who need to oversee everything.

• A project manager would be responsible for site selection, feasibility studies, implementation of solar and wind farms, all the tasks crucial in realising the green energy initiative. Additionally, they are also responsible for co-ordinating various aspects of a project including budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Development specialists– focus on identifying potential renewable energy opportunities, conduct market research, secure permits, and funding.

3. Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service

If there must be a growth in the green energy sector, then the green energy products and services must be marketed, promoted, and supported. Professionals in sales, marketing and customer service are in-demand in the clean energy sector.

Solar panel sales, energy efficiency consulting and customer support for residential and commercial green energy solutions are some of the areas where there are roles for the sales and marketing professionals to thrive.

Sales professionals– educate customers about the benefits of green energy and work closely with homeowners, businesses, and agencies to identify their energy needs and recommend suitable solutions.

Marketing specialists- develop strategic campaigns to promote the likelihood of renewable energy and adoption of sustainable practices.

Customer service representatives- provide information and assistance to customers with queries about their renewable energy systems. Their responsibilities include scheduling maintenance visits, troubleshooting issues and making sure customers are happy with the green energy solutions installed.

4. Scientists

As an environmental scientist- you will collect, analyse, and present information to help protect the planet. Your work could help find answers to some of the world’s biggest challenges, such as climate change. You might also focus on specific aspects, such as water, soil, or air quality.

Apart from the study and research, as a scientist you can even be an adviser or consultant, and help organisations become greener and more sustainable.

5. Fisheries manager

A more specific project management job could be as a fisheries manager. The main responsibility of this job role would be to manage fish stocks, which are important for biodiversity. You may also deal with legal aspects and even emergencies, such as oil spills.

6. Product designers

Product designers need to create products that last longer, work more efficiently, and have a smaller environmental impact.

Products can vary, from recyclable packaging to electric cars.

Another interesting job role in-demand are fashion designers!

Clothing is also a cause for impact on clean energy. For this to reduce its impact, including waste from ‘fast fashion.’

Fashion designers need to focus on making clothes that last longer and use recycled materials.

Fastest-growing sustainability roles in Europe according to LinkedIn data:

1. Environmental Health Safety Manager

Involves ensuring employers are “fostering a safe and sustainable workplace for employees, managing risk and ensuring compliance to health, safety and environmental regulations”.

2. Sustainability Analyst

Responsible for analysing, evaluating, and reporting on the company’s environmental impact, they develop strategies to make business operations more sustainable, including energy efficiency measures, waste reduction and responsible use of resources

3. Sustainability Manager

Oversee environmental and sustainability strategies for organisation, analysing, assessing, and reporting on environmental impact, with skills in carbon foot-printing and corporate sustainability.

4. Vice-President of Diversity and Inclusion

Responsible for cultivating inclusive workplaces through the design and implementation of policies relating to DEI.

Closing Words

The EU is investing in green jobs on a historic scale. In this new era of growth, the public, private, and third sectors will need to join forces to innovate, spread awareness and build the green industries and jobs of the future.

The rise of green energy jobs presents multifaceted opportunities for individuals, communities, and economies.

While some careers might not seem like typical ‘green’ jobs, there are many ways to find a career with a positive environmental impact, no matter what your own strengths are or which sector you work in.

Keep an open mind and keep your goals in mind – there are many green jobs that could be for you!

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Rajkumar Shanmugam

Head of HR

Rajkumar Shanmugam is the Head of HR at ALP Consulting, bringing over 19 years of comprehensive HR leadership experience across India and international markets. His expertise spans talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, compliance, and HR transformation. Rajkumar has a proven track record of driving people-centric initiatives, enhancing workplace culture, and aligning HR strategy with business goals. With extensive experience in US staffing operations and global mobility, he continues to lead organizational excellence through innovation and employee engagement.