The world will need 532,000 new wind technicians by 2028 to meet the growing demand for onshore and offshore wind energy, according to the Global Wind Workforce Outlook, a new report from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and the Global Wind Organisation (GWO). The report concludes that 40% of these positions will need to be filled by new employees, highlighting the need for a resilient supply chain of skilled personnel to build and maintain wind fleets.

To meet global wind energy ambitions and ensure that this energy plays the necessary role in achieving net-zero emissions and global renewable energy goals, it is essential for governments and industry to work together to expand the workforce.

The next era of wind energy requires governments to invest in vocational training and support international training standards. These measures play a crucial role in supporting a fair and equitable energy transition away from fossil fuels, while providing benefits for all, promoting socio-economic opportunities, ensuring safety, and supporting stable growth within the wind industry.

The report outlines nine measures that policymakers can adopt to help meet workforce needs in the medium and long term:

1. Establish workforce targets as part of national energy policy to support wind or renewable energy installation goals.
2. Introduce educational courses based on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to prepare students to become the entry-level workforce in the wind sector.
3. Invest in programs and financing for training, apprenticeships, and workforce skill enhancement to equip workers with the necessary skills for jobs in the wind and renewable energy sectors, particularly offshore wind.
4. Promote industrial policies and bidding criteria that foster, where possible, the growth of wind installations through local employment.
5. Facilitate tailored training and retraining pathways to promote the transfer and upgrading of skills from high-carbon industries to jobs in the wind sector.
6. Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion to address skills shortages by improving the attraction and retention of workers in the industry.
7. Implement strategic policy improvements to address workforce imports, exports, and dislocation.
8. Establish standards and penal provisions for the health and safety of workers in onshore and offshore wind industries.
9. Leverage the advantages of global standards and workforce initiatives, combining them to meet local conditions.

Ben Backwell, CEO of the Global Wind Energy Council, stated, “As the global wind energy sector continues to grow, particularly in new markets, it is critical that the growing wind workforce is equipped with the proper training and tools to meet the rising demand. Implementation must be accelerated to meet global net-zero and renewable goals, meaning it is vital that government and industry work together to build a workforce capable of generating onshore and offshore wind energy.”

“The nine steps outlined in this report provide a roadmap for action that can help turn ambitions into concrete projects. GWEC is working with global, regional, and national stakeholders to ensure that wind energy fulfills its role in the energy transition. Creating a strong workforce capable of supporting an expanding industry is key to realizing that potential.”

Jakob Lau Holst, CEO of the Global Wind Organisation, commented, “The message from this, our fifth edition of the GWWO, is clear: it is essential to focus on people to achieve the goals of the wind sector and drive a sustainable energy transition. The programs and partnerships of the GWO and GWEC play a key role in taking action to reduce the impact of climate change on communities. However, to achieve resilient supply chains of skilled personnel ready to build and maintain wind energy infrastructure, we also need governments to act by investing in vocational training, removing regulatory barriers, and supporting the call for international training standards.”

“The Global Wind Workforce Outlook report focuses on critical areas for the final stages of wind energy commissioning, the key stage that turns planning projects into operational ones. Addressing the labor shortage in this area can rapidly accelerate growth and play a key role in ensuring that wind energy fulfills its role in the fight against climate change.”

Key training requirements in the market

The number of people who will need training in C&I and O&M to cope with the growth of wind energy by the end of 2028 is expected to increase significantly.

The report analyzes in detail ten countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, the Philippines, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United States of America. The training needs in these ten countries account for 73% of the total number of C&I and O&M technicians expected to work in the sector by 2028.