EMPLOYMENT in renewable energy grew 18% to 7.7 million in 2014 while Australian jobs were slashed due to policy uncertainty, a new report has revealed.
The International Renewable Energy Agency released their annual review of renewable energy and employment overnight, which showed solar PV is the largest renewable energy employer with 2.5 million jobs.
China, the United States, India, Brazil and Germany were 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.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said the report highlighted that Australia was 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,” she said.
“Australia is the windiest and sunniest country in the world but while renewable jobs are growing worldwide, we’re going backward in the sunny country.”
For more information on the IRENA report, go to www.irena.org
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