What’s Hot: Renewables 2024 Jobs Report

The renewable energy sector continues to expand rapidly in 2024, driven by significant investments, technological advancements, and supportive policies. This report provides a comprehensive review of the past year’s placement data in the renewable energy sector, offering crucial insights into the industry’s growth, employment trends, and emerging technologies. Drawing on data from esteemed sources and industry-specific studies, we explore the dynamics shaping this vibrant sector.

Market Growth and Investment Trends

In 2024, the renewable energy sector continues its trajectory of robust growth and significant investment. A record $303.3 billion has been invested in the United States towards clean energy technologies, including renewables, electric vehicles (EVs), and power grid improvements. This surge in funding is accompanied by an increase in planned manufacturing facilities, rising to 104, largely driven by the provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) with a notable focus on battery production (BloombergNEF ).

Capacity and Technology Expansion

The expansion in capacity and technology is evident as the US added 42GW of new renewable power-generating capacity in 2023, primarily from solar installations, raising renewable energy’s share to 8.8% of total energy demand and 23% of electricity demand. The energy storage market also reached new heights with 7.5GW of battery storage capacity commissioned, setting a record (BloombergNEF ).

Policy and Regulatory Developments

Policy and regulatory frameworks are playing a pivotal role, with the US aiming for 100% carbon-free electricity generation by 2035 through diverse energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower, nuclear, and biomass, supplemented by carbon capture and storage. The IRA and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) are accelerating investments in renewable infrastructure, including critical grid enhancements ( IEA ) .

Job Orders Over the Past Year

Key Findings

Our review of placement data from the past year reveals key trends in employment within the renewable energy sector. Notably, 11% of placements were remote, which was down from 22% reflecting the previous year’s data . Conversely, 89% of placements were onsite, indicating the hands-on nature of many roles in this industry, which was up from 78% from 2023.

The majority of placements, 68%, were contract roles , highlighting the sector’s reliance on flexible workforce arrangements to meet project-specific demands. Permanent placements accounted for 32% of the total, suggesting a significant portion of stable, long-term opportunities within the sector.

A recent survey of our network revealed strong community interest in renewable energy projects. Solar power installations emerged as the most favored at 55%, followed by Hydropower Systems at 19%, Community Bioenergy Projects at 16%, and lastly, Wind Farms at 10%. This feedback underscores the public’s growing support for diverse renewable energy initiatives in their local communities.

The renewable energy sector is experiencing unprecedented growth and transformation in 2024. This report highlights the substantial investments, technological advancements, and supportive policies driving this expansion. The insights gathered from our comprehensive review of the past year’s placement data underscore the dynamic nature of the industry.” – Jim Pagliero, President

In summary, the renewable energy sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth in 2024, driven by substantial investments, technological innovations, and supportive policy frameworks. The data reviewed in this report reveals critical trends in market growth, capacity expansion, and regulatory developments. The employment landscape reflects these dynamics, showcasing a blend of remote and onsite opportunities, with a significant portion of the workforce engaged in contract roles to meet the sector’s evolving demands. As we look forward, the insights provided here underscore the sector’s potential for continued growth and job creation, positioning renewable energy as a cornerstone of the future energy landscape. This period of transformation offers substantial opportunities for professionals and stakeholders committed to advancing sustainable energy solutions.

About Planet Forward

Planet Forward, part of The Planet Group and one of the largest Engineering staffing firms in the US, is a highly respected global staffing and recruitment company providing strategic and innovative human capital solutions for clients in the Energy, Engineering, Oil & Gas, Infrastructure, and Manufacturing sectors.

At Planet Forward, we utilize a team-oriented approach to deliver best value to our clients and support the critical needs of their business.

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