According to a 2017 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the renewable energy sector employed around 9.8 million people worldwide. This marks an increase of 1.1% from the previous year. The largest employers in the industry were China, Brazil, the United States, India, and Germany.
The report also highlights that solar photovoltaic was the largest renewable energy employer, accounting for 3.4 million jobs globally. Other sectors that contributed significantly to employment in renewables include liquid biofuels, hydropower, and wind power.
In terms of job types, the renewable energy industry provides employment in a range of sectors including manufacturing, installation, operations, maintenance, and research and development.
This growth in renewable energy employment is largely driven by factors such as falling costs of renewable technologies, favorable government policies and regulations, and increased public awareness of the need for clean and sustainable energy sources.
Overall, the renewable energy sector has become an important source of job creation globally and is expected to continue growing as countries further transition to clean energy sources to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable development.