Skilled Worker Shortage Threatens Energy Transition in Europe
Europe’s push toward clean energy is generating employment and economic activity, but a growing shortage of skilled workers could become a major obstacle to the region’s climate ambitions. Electricians, technicians, engineers, plumbers and other specialized workers are increasingly needed to build, install and maintain renewable-energy infrastructure. The European Environment Agency estimates that Europe’s clean-energy sector employed nearly one million people and generated about €138 billion ($159 billion) in economic value in 2023. Its assessment focused on four key technologies: wind power, batteries, solar energy, and heat pumps. Wind energy was the largest employer, supporting roughly 273,500 jobs, followed by solar…
