The world will need 532,000 new wind technicians by 2028 to meet the increasing demand for onshore and offshore wind, according to the Global Wind Workforce Outlook report. The report finds that 40% of those roles will need to be filled by new entrants, highlighting the need for a resilient supply chain of skilled personnel to build and maintain wind fleets.
The report details nine steps policymakers can take to help fulfil mid-to-long-term workforce needs:
- Set workforce targets as part of the national energy policy to support wind or renewable energy installation targets
- Introduce education courses based on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to prepare students for entry-level wind workforce positions
- Invest in and fund workforce training, apprenticeships, and upskilling programmes to equip workers with the skills needed for wind and renewable energy jobs, especially in offshore wind
- Promote industrial policy and tendering criteria that foster wind installation growth through local jobs as much as possible
- Facilitate tailored retraining and reskilling pathways to promote the transfer and upskilling of workers from carbon-intensive industries to wind industry jobs
- Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion to resolve skill shortages by enhancing the attraction and retention of workers to the industry.
- Make strategic policy improvements to address workforce imports, exports, and dislocation
- Set standards and penalty provisions for operational health and safety for onshore and offshore wind workforces
- Embrace the advantages of global standards and workforce initiatives, blending them to meet local conditions
The report, published by the Global Wind Energy Council and Global Wind Organisation, examines ten countries in detail: Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United States of America. Training needs in these ten countries constitute 73% of the total number of construction and installation (C&I) and operations and maintenance (O&M) technicians forecast to be working in the sector in 2028.
