The European Union's ambition to rapidly expand solar and wind power relies on a big increase in the solar and wind workforce during a difficult hiring season.
According to industry association SolarPower Europe, solar employment in the EU increased by 30% by 2022 to over 600,000 jobs, including indirect roles in materials and transportation.
By 2030 the EU will need more than 1 million solar workers to meet higher renewable energy targets set recently by the EU to end the region's reliance on Russian oil and gas, SolarPower Europe said.
The EU plans to increase solar capacity to 320 GW by 2025 and install 600 GW by 2030 through its REPowerEU initiative. Wind capacity must be doubled to more over 500 GW, it claimed, putting additional strain on the labor sector.
In 2030, 80% of solar jobs will be in installation, an area where companies are already struggling to find workers.
Sanda Bozic, head of Human Resources EMEA at developer BayWa r.e., said at Reuters Events that solar builders are competing for staff with the larger energy and automotive businesses.