Climate change is driving governments, entrepreneurs, and individuals globally to develop solutions to achieve environmental resilience. Stakeholders are adopting green energy technologies to minimize climate risks, such as extreme weather events, by releasing fewer carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The ‘green’ technologies are not just driving climate action but are also creating job opportunities, and therefore, the demand for jobs in green energy is increasing as the world transitions to cleaner fuels. According to a 2025 LinkedIn survey, employment in the green sector increased by 7.7% from 2024 to 2025 – double the 4.3% rate growth in green skills. These jobs involve producing and maintaining energy from natural sources such as water, wind, solar energy, and biomass.
Green jobs extend across many sectors, like agriculture, transport, construction, and manufacturing, where environmental preservation is important. Therefore, in this article, readers will gain insight into the Top-10 green jobs, the main responsibilities involved, and the job outlook in various regions and countries. But first, let’s take a look at the evolution of green energy.
The dynamics and importance of the green energy sector
Green energy is a subset of renewable energy captured from natural sources that do not directly harm the environment, such as wind, water currents and rivers, and solar energy. The sources are readily available, which makes them cheaper as technology evolves. As a result, the International Energy Agency (IEA) 2025 report states that the capacity of green energy sources to generate electricity will double by 2030, with an expected increase of 4,600 gigawatts (GW). Solar energy will represent at least 80% of the expected increase, with wind, hydropower, bioenergy, and geothermal following, respectively, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Renewable Electricity Growth by Technology (2013-2030)
Source: International Energy Agency 2025 Projections
The adoption of green energy is important in accelerating sustainable growth by improving energy reliability and creating job opportunities. Governments and private sector investments in solar and wind technologies are creating massive job opportunities in the green energy sector. In 2024, the sector created at least 16 million jobs around the globe, the fastest annual growth rate ever. The same year, the world invested approximately US$2.1 trillion in low-carbon energy transition, boosting local economies mostly in the developing world. For developing regions like Africa with limited resources, harnessing green energy helps to reduce an over-reliance on imported fossil fuels and promotes employment.
Top-10 jobs in green energy
🔹 Green and Low-Carbon Hydrogen Expert
This expert assesses the technical compatibility and repurposes the potential of natural gas frameworks for hydrogen to achieve net-zero emissions. This job is in high demand in Europe, where at least 1.7 million new clean energy jobs are predicted to emerge by 2040. Experts in hydrogen technology are also in demand in South Africa and Namibia due to the development of green hydrogen hubs. A Master’s degree in the energy sector is a key requirement.
🔹 Climate Change Specialist
This job involves climate risk assessment, and evaluating historical data, and the trends of climate change. The demand for climate change specialists is common in developed regions like Europe and developing nations, where the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is supporting green growth planning. The specialist earns between US$75,000- $110,000 per year. The basic requirement is a Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or climatology.
🔹 Green Building Architect
Green building architects design energy-efficient and low-carbon buildings that reduce energy use and incorporate eco-friendly systems such as solar panels and passive heating. An architectural degree and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification are the key requirements for this role, which has an annual salary of at least US$80,000. The job market for this role is high in North America, India, and Europe, where energy policies are impacting employment in green construction.
🔹 Wind Turbine Technician
Wind turbine technicians repair and maintain wind turbines, ensuring their optimal performance. Supporting the wind energy infrastructure is important as this contributes to the efficiency of green energy initiatives. This role is in particularly high demand in China, where 44% of global wind employment is concentrated, with Europe second with 30% and North America at 10%. A high-school diploma and mechanical skills are the basic requirements for this job.
🔹 Lead Renewable Energy Engineer
The perfect candidate provides operational, professional, technical, and administrative assistance throughout the process of energy provision programming. Demand for these engineering roles is increasing globally as green energy jobs surge, especially in China, Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East, due to the immense investment in the green energy sector. The average annual salary ranges between US$70,000 -$110,000.
🔹 Sustainable Supply Chain Manager
This role encompasses ensuring clean energy projects use low-carbon materials, green sourcing, and effective logistics to reduce emissions in the supply chain. It is in high demand in developed nations such as the U.S, the European Union, and the Middle East due to strict ESG policies and sustainability goals that necessitate low-carbon sourcing. A degree in business or logistics with a sustainability certification are the academic qualifications required for this role.
🔹 Climate Finance and Investment Analyst
This job focuses on identifying investors for local and international green energy initiatives, assessing financial risks, and supporting investment decisions. The position is growing rapidly due to increasing climate finance flows and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, with high demand in Europe, the U.S, and Asia-Pacific. A Master’s degree in finance, environmental economics, or other related fields is a core academic requirement.
🔹 Solar Panel (PV) Installers
These workers support the global transition to green energy by installing and maintaining solar panels, converting solar energy to clean energy. The demand for PV installers is growing rapidly globally, particularly in China, which leads in terms of the number of jobs in the solar sector. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency 2024 report, of over 7.2 million photovoltaic jobs around the globe, almost 4.5 million were in China. The job requires technical training and field experience.
🔹 Fuel Cell Engineers
These engineers develop fuel cell systems and technologies to convert hydrogen into clean energy for use in electrified systems. The demand for this job is increasing in the United States and hydrogen innovation hubs such as South Korea and Europe. It requires a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in chemical or electrical engineering.
🔹 Water and Sustainability Expert
This position involves ensuring the effective use of water resources to meet environmental and economic needs, taking into account the water cycle. It is in high demand in regions such as the Middle East, Europe, and North America, where green energy and water security are influencing the sustainability sector employment. This green energy job requires a post-secondary certificate or an associate’s degree in the relevant fields.
Wrap-up
The shift to renewable energy not only has a positive effect on mitigating climate change but also brings new opportunities to the labor market. Jobs in the green energy sector are flourishing due to global efforts to achieve a sustainable transition from fossil fuels. From climate change consultancy to green energy engineering, these jobs are driving the global transition to green energy.
