Airswift, a workforce solutions company, recently released the results of their survey, which they dubbed the Global Energy Talent Index (GETI) (14 February). They shed light on major developments across the energy industry as a whole, and specifically illustrate the growing need for trained professionals in the renewable energy sector.
Seventy-eight percent of those polled who are currently employed in the clean energy sector reported being headhunted at least once in the previous 12 months. One-third of respondents reported being approached by recruiters about six or more job opportunities during this time period.
It’s important to note that not all of these openings are directly related to the clean energy industry. Twenty-three percent of people who participated in the survey said that more than half of their job offers came from non-traditional industries.
GETI data shows that people who leave one industry for another are increasingly drawn to the technology sector, with the fossil fuel industry coming in second.
The survey did a good job of illuminating some of the factors, such as pay, company culture, and the feeling of contributing to the energy transition, that attract and retain workers in the renewable energy sector.
Half of those asked about their salaries said they had gotten a raise in the previous year. When asked about the company’s culture, 73% of respondents said they were able to freely express their opinions and values at work, the highest percentage among the energy sectors studied by Airswift.
However, if presented with a competitive offer, 67% of employees would consider leaving the industry. Among renewables workers, 59% say that their dissatisfaction stems from their pay. The GETI found that employee dissatisfaction with their benefits packages was the second most important factor. Among the renewables workforce, oil giants BP and Total Energies are the most sought-after employers due to their competitive pay and generous benefits.
Janette Marx, CEO of Airswift, commented on the study’s findings, saying, “The energy transition will hinge on our green skills base, yet renewables talent is increasingly restless and in demand from outside sectors.”
Workers in the renewable energy sector are the most likely to be concerned with their employers’ values, which now extend beyond environmental concerns to include factors like the organization’s social impact and its willingness to accommodate employees’ needs. By reducing fixed hours and physical deployments and creating more meaningful roles with KPIs linked to social as well as environmental contributions, green energy firms will be able to compete with fossil fuel firms on a wider range of metrics, from societal impact to flexibility.
Less than a week has passed since the International Energy Agency (IEA) released its Electricity Market Outlook for 2023, and now the GETI has been released as well. According to the Agency’s projections, renewables and nuclear energy will “dominate” the growth of global electricity production over the next three years, accounting for more than 90% of additional global demand.
