🌎 Green Skills #19
HolonIQ is tracking reskilling and upskilling efforts as technology, decarbonization, and global dynamics reshape energy, environment, infrastructure, and mobility sectors. Targeted workforce development is key to enhancing skills, driving growth, and supporting sustainable progress.
As the global green transition accelerates, labor markets are adapting, revealing both major job creation and critical skills gaps. India is set to add 7.3M green jobs by FY28 and 35 million by 2047, with renewables, sustainable agriculture, and mobility driving growth. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu unveiled a six-point roadmap to lead EV innovation, with dedicated R&D zones and Mobility Skills 2030 to align training with EV powertrain, battery, and embedded systems needs. Across Ireland and Northern Ireland, the $11M GRASP project launched 50 green construction courses and inclusion-focused academies to expand access to retrofitting and heat-pump training.
In nuclear, employment rose 6% in 2023 to 1.1M, driven by growth in China, which accounted for nearly one-third of global nuclear jobs. Over 60% of China’s nuclear roles are in manufacturing, well above global averages. While the sector offers higher-than-average wages and strong growth under net-zero scenarios, long development timelines require consistent investment in skills and supply chains.
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Green Labor Market Trends
🌱 India to Add 7M Green Jobs by FY28, 35M by 2047. India is set to create 7.3M green jobs by FY28 and 35 million by 2047, driven by its renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and mobility sectors. The surge highlights India’s pivotal role in shaping a global green economy.
⚛️ 1,500 UK Apprenticeships to Power Nuclear Future. The UK government’s $19B investment in Sizewell C includes 1,500 new apprenticeships, enhancing nuclear workforce readiness. This move supports long-term low-carbon power generation while building critical green skills pipelines for the clean energy transition.
☀️ Houston Solar Firm Cuts Over Half Its Workforce. Houston-based Sunnova Energy laid off 718 employees (over half its workforce), signaling instability in the US solar industry. The move reflects market challenges and underscores the need for stronger workforce planning amid fluctuating clean energy demand.
⚡ UK Energy Sector Lags on Gender Inclusion. Women make up just 14% of UK power company employees, spotlighting persistent gender imbalances in the clean energy workforce. Despite progress on climate goals, diversity in skilled trades and leadership remains a critical gap to address.
Employment in Nuclear Power Increases as Investment Grows Steadily
👷♂️ Nuclear power jobs rise steadily in 2023. Global employment in the nuclear power sector grew by 6% to nearly 1.1 million workers, despite a 30% decline in capacity additions year-on-year. Five new reactors came online across Belarus, China, Korea, Slovakia, and the US.
⚙️ China dominates nuclear employment and manufacturing. With 29 reactors under construction and 56 operational, China employs nearly one-third of the global nuclear workforce and drives 60% of the 2023 job growth. Manufacturing accounts for over 60% of China’s nuclear jobs, well above the global average.
🌱 A specialized workforce demands high skills and pay. Nuclear jobs require years of training and involve a lengthy 7-12 year development cycle for reactors, resulting in average wages about 50% higher than other power sectors. Only one-third of nuclear jobs focus on operating existing plants, underscoring the labor-intensive nature of construction and manufacturing.
📉 Moderate growth expected under current policies, but net-zero ambitions double jobs. The Stated Policies Scenario projects moderate employment growth through 2030, while the Net Zero Emissions Scenario nearly doubles nuclear jobs to 2.1 million, driven by accelerated reactor construction and steady operational hiring.
🎯 Actionable Strategies: Supporting nuclear workforce growth requires expanded training programs and long-term investment in reactor construction. Strengthening supply chains, especially in manufacturing hubs like China, and aligning policies with net-zero goals will unlock employment potential while ensuring safe, skilled labor.
Upskilling/Reskilling Intiatives
🛠️ Green Accelerator Skills Programme Launches Cross‑Border. An $11M GRASP project launched across nine counties in Ireland and Northern Ireland offers 50 green construction courses, including retrofit and heat-pump training, with academies focused on women and labor activation to boost inclusion.
👷🏼 Construction Workforce to Gain 25,000 New Skills in India. Knauf-led initiative targets upskilling for 25,000 construction workers through hands-on training in drywall and ceiling installation. Focus centers on equipping tradespeople with modern construction techniques and sustainable material use, further support India’s green building transition.
🚗 Michigan Secures $120K for EV Technician Training. Northwest Michigan Works and Northwestern Michigan College obtained $120K to launch an electric‑vehicle technician training programme. The funding supports hands‑on instruction in EV diagnostics and maintenance, preparing technicians for a growing clean mobility workforce.
Policy Initiatives
🚙 Tamil Nadu Roadmap Accelerates EV Innovation. Tamil Nadu introduced a six-point policy framework, including a Mobility Innovation Fund and dedicated R&D zones, to transform from an auto manufacturing hub into a clean mobility leader. Specialized Mobility Skills 2030 training aims to align workforce capabilities with EV powertrain, battery, and embedded systems needs.
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