Africa lags in green jobs boom, holds just 2 per cent of the global sum

Despite the rapid global expansion of green energy, Africa remains on the sidelines of a booming job market that has already created over 16 million jobs worldwide.

According to the latest assessment by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), employment in the renewable energy sector is projected to double, surpassing 30 million jobs by 2030.

It, however, highlights a stark imbalance in how these opportunities are distributed, positioning Africa on the sidelines.

“Jobs in renewables are not evenly distributed across different regions and countries. China, Brazil, India, the United States and member states of the European Union continue to be by far the biggest employers in renewable energy,” the agency said.

“Other parts of the world, including Africa, have so far only benefited in limited ways.”

Based on the most recent figures, the report estimates that Africa created approximately 324,000 renewable energy jobs in 2023, accounting for just two per cent of the global total of 16.2 million.

In stark contrast, China dominates the sector with 7.39 million jobs, representing roughly 46 per cent of all green energy employment worldwide.

The rest of Asia contributed 2.16 million jobs (13.3 per cent), followed by the European Union with 1.81 million (11.2 per cent), Brazil with 1.57 million (9.7 per cent), the United States with 1.06 million (6.5 per cent), and India with 1.02 million (6.3 per cent).

Notably, these figures underscore a significant disparity in green job distribution, with Africa’s share trailing far behind despite its vast renewable energy potential and growing labour force.

The Agency therefore emphasises that labour market policies, particularly in African countries, must evolve to address the broad range of current and emerging challenges brought about by the energy transition.

First, it underscores that jobs generated through the energy transition must be both decent and inclusive, mitigating potential negative impacts, especially for workers in the informal sector, which remains widespread across much of the Global South.

Additional concern that needs addressing is job misalignment, where new employment opportunities may not arise at the same time or in the same places where job losses occur.

Disruptions may also happen across different sectors, as rising industries require different inputs and skill sets compared to those in decline, the agency adds in part.

On top of that, it warns that spatial mismatches could emerge, with new green jobs not necessarily being created in the same communities, regions, or countries facing job losses.

The Agency further highlights the challenge of skills mismatch, reckoning that the qualifications and experience of workers in declining sectors often don’t align with the needs of emerging green industries.

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To address these, IRENA says countries need to conduct comprehensive assessments of their labour markets, identifying strengths and weaknesses.

It adds that efforts must also focus on retraining and re-skilling workers from traditional industries such as manufacturing and utilities to meet the demands of renewable energy technologies.

Finally, inclusive workforce development programmes are essential to ensure equitable access to new opportunities, stressing the need for special attention to groups that often face systemic barriers, such as women, youth, the elderly, indigenous populations, and persons with disabilities.

“It is also important that such population groups be given better access to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programmes.”