Over 60,000 clean energy jobs could be created in Australia by 2025, most of them in regional areas, including in energy efficiency, management and electrification jobs, as the Albanese Government ramps up the transformation to renewable energy.
After jobs in renewable energy being neglected for nine years under the previous government, a clearer picture of employment needs in the energy sector is desperately needed.
The Australian Energy Employment Report (AEER) survey will engage directly with employers via an online questionnaire and provide a more detailed understanding of current and future workforce issues to support development of the jobs and training crucial to Australia’s energy transformation, as the global race to renewables gathers pace.
Related article: Our climate emergency could create clean energy jobs
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the report would guide policymakers across governments in their decision making after its release in the middle of each year.
“Australia is going to need thousands of workers every year entering the energy sector to build the massive infrastructure projects our energy grid needs and meet our emissions reduction targets,” Minister Bowen said.
“That’s why we’re supporting energy sector jobs with 10,000 New Energy Apprenticeships, ensuring workers are training in the jobs of the future as we undergo the transformation to a renewable energy superpower.
“But we currently lack the data to forecast accurately how these jobs are changing. The government is addressing this through the long overdue Australian Energy Employment Report, an online national survey of businesses in the energy sector to identify current and future workforce issues.
“My department has developed this survey in consultation with industry associations, educational institutions and other key stakeholders to support businesses in the global energy transformation.
“The findings will give federal, state and local governments insights into the energy job market to help develop policies on jobs, skills development and training opportunities, and I encourage energy businesses across the country to participate in this important survey.”
According to employment projections by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), the construction workforce for scheduled renewable generation, storage and transmission projects must increase by 12,000 across Australia’s eastern states by 2025.
Around 31,000 extra workers will be needed by then if Australia is to realise its goal of becoming a major exporter of green hydrogen.
Related article: Partnership to deliver jobs and skills boost for Riverina
The Clean Energy Council welcomed the announcement, with chief executive Kane Thornton commenting, “The AEER will go a long way to ensuring the clean energy sector has the workforce required to deliver the 141GW of large-scale wind and solar capacity, 63GW of storage and hydro capacity, and 69 GW of small-scale solar and household batteries needed by 2050 to maintain reliability and keep prices down.
“We don’t have time to waste. Opportunity comes knocking once in a generation. This is our generation’s opportunity to deliver a clean energy future for Australia and set us up to become a global clean energy superpower, creating an extraordinary legacy for Australian workers.”
The AEER survey is available to energy sector employers here until Sunday 30 April.
