World Energy Employment 2023

The second edition of the World Energy Employment (WEE) tracks the evolution of the global energy workforce from before the pandemic, through the global energy crisis, to today. Providing a comprehensive estimate of energy employment by sector, by region, and by supply chain segment. This covers fossil fuel supply, bioenergy production, nuclear fuel supply, and low-emissions hydrogen production; power sector generation, transmission, distribution, and storage; and key energy-related end uses, including vehicle manufacturing and energy efficiency for buildings and industry. Additionally, the 2023 WEE for the first time presents employment in the extraction of selected critical minerals, including copper, cobalt, nickel, and lithium.

This year’s report explores in depth the risks of skilled labour shortages and how this may influence the outlook for the industry and includes new analysis on skills, certifications, wages, and job postings. The findings signal that the ongoing shifts in energy employment will continue and can present both opportunities and risks. With the right measures in place, policy makers, firms, labour representations, and education can work in concert to avoid labour transition risks while ensuring the transition to cleaner sources of energy remains people-centred.