Overnight, the International Renewable Energy Agency released their annual review of renewable energy and employment. It states that global employment in renewable energy grew 18% to 7.7 million in 2014 while Australian jobs were slashed due to policy uncertainty. The report also reveals that the largest renewable energy employer, with 2.5 million jobs, is solar PV.

China, the United States, India, Brazil and Germany emerged as the key employers, with renewables employment in the U.S increasing by 16% to 725,000 jobs. In contrast, renewable energy jobs fell 15% in Australia between 2013 and 2014 as a result of policy uncertainty over the Renewable Energy Target.

The report highlights just how much Australia is missing out on a jobs bonanza. While the Renewable Energy Target has been cut in Australia, the rest of the world is reaping the rewards of stable and supportive renewable energy policies through increased job growth and investment.

Australia is the sunniest – and one of the windiest – countries in the world. The fact that renewable jobs are growing worldwide reinforces that we’re going backwards in the sunny country.

For more information on the IRENA report, head to www.irena.org