Boom in renewable energy jobs but African countries lag behind – Report

The renewable energy sector recorded an 18 per cent growth in job creation in 2023 globally, new disclosures show, extending the trend witnessed in almost the past 10 years.

This marks the highest growth on record, with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) attributing the surge to rising demand for clean energy solutions as nations strive to meet their ambitious climate goals.

The annual report, jointly produced by IRENA and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), reveals that renewable energy jobs grew to 16.2 million in 2023, up from 13.7 million in 2022.

Notably, solar and wind energy sectors are leading this growth.

"Significant growth is also noted in energy storage, green hydrogen and electric vehicles," the report says.

However, the findings highlight a growing disparity between developed and developing regions, with African countries lagging significantly behind in the renewable energy employment boom.

The region received only a small share of global renewables investment, which translates to a total of 324,000 renewables jobs in the year under review.

Abundant natural resources

According to the report, the continent accounts for less than one per cent of the world's solar PV (photovoltaics) and wind generating capacities.

This is despite the region's abundant natural resources, including significant solar and wind potential.

A recent study report by FSD Africa says Africa's green economy has the potential of creating up to 3.3 million new direct green jobs on the continent by 2030.

This with the majority being in the renewable energy solar sector.

Among these, the energy and power sector could generate up to two million jobs, primarily in solar PV (up to 1.7 million), but also in hydropower (165,000), power transmission and distribution (197,000), wind (79,000), battery storage (51,000) and geothermal energy (33,000),

Notably in the report, Kenya is predicted to create between 40,000 and 240,000 green jobs by 2030.

Nevertheless, it predicts that 60 per cent of the employment generated by the green economy over the coming six years will be skilled or white collar in nature, with 10 percent comprising advanced jobs.

"Further 30 percent are projected to be 'specialised', requiring certification or vocational training, and 20 per cent will be administrative in emphasis," FSD Africa says.

"These job types tend to attract higher salaries and will, therefore, play a central role in spurring the growth of the middle class in countries hosting these high-growth sectors."

Other studies have recently also argued that the region faces numerous challenges in scaling up renewable energy industries, including inadequate infrastructure, limited investment and a lack of skilled labor.

In Kenya, the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Environment and Climate Change Festus Ng'eno early this year said lack of proper regulations and skills offering is among the top obstacles young Kenyans face in pursuit of green opportunities.

He reiterated that the lack of experience and effective training for jobs in these areas has left a majority of job seekers not knowing what they should do.

As a result, the situation prompted the state to initiate a multi-sectoral approach in an effort to train and formulate regulations for the sector.

In the plan, the government sought to shift from the traditional set period for training to granting certificates once they feel a trainee is ready.

According to Kenya National Adaptation Plan 2015-2030, training young Kenyans in relevant careers and imparting new skills to those already in the workforce or unemployed will contribute to the building of national resilience to climate change while aiding the country's economic development.