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Brazil stands out globally in generating green jobs and the sector continues to offer opportunities even in the face of regulatory and economic challenges.
The job market in the renewable energy sector is experiencing one of its most promising moments between 2023 and early 2025. Driven by sustainable policies, technological innovation and increased demand for clean sources, the sector has seen significant growth in the number of job openings, consolidating itself as one of the main drivers of the new global green economy.
In Brazil, the movement is even more intense: the country already ranks third globally in the creation of jobs linked to renewable energy, with more than 1,5 million direct and indirect jobs. And the scenario continues to expand, with emphasis on the areas of solar energy, biofuels and distributed generation.
Renewable energy jobs hit record high in 2023, paving the way for 2025
According to a joint report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the renewable energy sector generated 16,2 million jobs in 2023 — an increase of 18% compared to 2022. This number is expected to continue to increase until the end of 2025, driven by public and private projects on several continents.
- Easy-to-install wind turbine costs less than 3 THOUSAND, can generate energy 24 hours a day, supply 50% to 100% of the consumption of a conventional residence and still last 25 years
- Zinc-air battery generates power and also helps clean wastewater
- US recycles hard drives to recover metals and boost sustainable energy
- Biomethane production advances in Brazil with the use of landfills
Solar photovoltaic energy leads the generation of jobs, with 7,2 million workers employed worldwide. Next come liquid biofuels (2,8 million), hydroelectric power (2,3 million) and wind power (1,4 million).
Brazil among global leaders in green jobs and renewable energy
Brazil was one of the countries that stood out most in this growth. According to IRENA, the country is responsible for one third of the world's jobs in the biofuels sector. It alone employs around 1,56 million people in the renewable energy chain, which places it behind only China and India in this global ranking.
Na solar energy, Brazil reached the milestone of 264 thousand direct jobs in 2023, being the fourth largest employer in the world in this technology, behind only China, the United States and Germany.
This progress is mainly the result of the rapid expansion of distributed generation and incentives for the installation of solar panels in homes, businesses and rural properties. Brazil has already surpassed the 37 gigawatt (GW) mark of installed solar power.
Trends that will move the sector until the end of 2025
The outlook for 2025 is optimistic. According to data from Canal Energia, the global installed capacity of renewable sources is projected to jump from 4,7 terawatts to 10,3 terawatts by 2030. In the short term, investments will continue to grow mainly in:
- Distributed generation (DG): With the review of the rules of the GD Legal Framework, small and medium-sized projects continue to grow.
- Biofuels and bioenergy: Brazil is a pioneer in this segment, with the potential to expand the production of ethanol, biodiesel and biogas.
- Green Hydrogen: Although it still faces economic viability challenges, the sector continues to receive attention from companies interested in decarbonizing their operations.
Challenges that the sector still needs to face
Despite the growth and opportunities, the renewable energy sector still faces some important challenges in Brazil and abroad:
- Bureaucracy and slowness in project approval large;
- Lack of qualified labor for certain technical functions;
- Slowdown in hydroelectric investments, which reduced the number of jobs in this sector from 2,5 million (2022) to 2,3 million (2023) worldwide.
Still, the balance is extremely positive. Renewable energy is currently one of the main bets for generating employment, income and sustainable development. And Brazil, with its abundance of natural resources and increasingly accessible technology, is among the countries that can benefit most from this global energy transition.
Technical training will be a competitive advantage
With the market booming, technical courses and specializations in the area of renewable energy should gain even more prominence. Professionals trained to work with solar panel installation, wind turbine maintenance and biogas system operation are among the most sought after.
Public and private institutions are already adapting their curricula to meet this new reality, with a focus on practical training, sustainability and innovation.
Sources: IRENA, ILO e Energy Channel
