Energy transition requires 350,000 additional skilled workers in Germany by 2030 – analysis
Clean Energy Wire
Achieving climate neutrality before mid-century will require an additional 350,000 skilled workers in Germany to plan, build, and operate renewable power and hydrogen production facilities, an analysis commissioned by the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) has found. Today, 200,000 people work in these sectors.
Reaching the “very ambitious” target year for climate neutrality, 2045, could be made more difficult due to the fact that companies require more time to find qualified workers, which means expansion targets for renewable energy will only be partially fulfilled.
“Many companies expect the transformation to take longer because of a lack of skilled workers,” said DIHK head Achim Dercks, adding that the renewable power industry would face stiff competition for technical personnel. “It’s crucial that we look at the entire value chain when gauging labour demand,” Dercks added, arguing that logistics, transport, and administration need to be considered as well when planning for the energy transition.
“This means that wind turbine construction could be delayed because we have no lorry drivers,” Dercks said. Without ensuring the availability of skilled workers, “renewable energy expansion plans will remain utopian,” he argued.
Power systems around the world must be reshaped to meet the rising global appetite for energy - while keeping the climate goals alive. But a growing lack of skilled workers threatens this transition. The analysis conducted by consultancy Prognos looked at 250 job profiles that it considered relevant for the energy transition. The authors argued that the lack of skilled workers continues to be an underestimated factor in energy transition plans that could also have an impact on the economy’s overall ability to innovate and stay competitive.
