It’s no secret that the renewable energy sector in Australia is experiencing unprecedented growth against the backdrop of a global commitment to a sustainable future. As we shift towards cleaner energy sources, the demand for skilled professionals in the renewable energy industry is skyrocketing. So much so, an ongoing challenge persists—real and perceived skills shortages.
Australia’s ambitious renewable energy targets, coupled with increased investments in wind, solar, and other renewable projects, have created a surge in demand for skilled workers. However, the supply of qualified professionals has struggled to keep pace with this exponential growth. It is crucial to address this gap to ensure the industry’s sustainable development.
Placing workers at the centre of the solution, The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has released a new report, Skilling the Energy Transition, which makes six key recommendations. Published ahead of the Job and Skills Summit in early September 2022, it explores the different ways businesses and governments can improve worker access to clean energy jobs.
Bridging the skills gap: how education can drive clean energy progress
From higher education challenges to establishing a more robust standing and clean energy reputation, the report reveals the major barriers constraining the pool of talent entering the industry. The CEC report, published ahead of the Job and Skills Summit in early September 2022, explored the different ways that businesses and governments can improve worker access to clean energy jobs.
The report’s six recommendations include:
- Calibrating higher education to meet the needs of clean energy interests
- Anticipating the future needs for the clean energy workforce
- Raising the profile of the clean energy sector as an opportunity for all Australians
- Establishing an authority to manage the clean energy transition
- Enhancing the Vocational Education and Training Sector’s capacity to understand and meet the demands of industry
- Establishing Australia’s reputation abroad as a global centre for clean energy expertise
To make sure that we have the workforce to support the continued and accelerated growth of renewable energy in Australia, at the core of it, we need the headcount. Not only this, we need the right number of people with the right skills in the right place at the right time.
This approach formed the basis of the Skilling the Energy Transition report. Targeted at businesses and government bodies, the report aims to answer the question of how we ensure that the industry has the talent needed to carry out its development plans over the next five to ten years.
Addressing major challenges and pressures within the industry
It’s important to understand some of the greatest challenges facing the current workforce, and the impact such pressures can have on the future of the clean energy industry. One thing that’s becoming increasingly clear is that many of the industry’s in-demand skills must come from a range of disciplines.
As it becomes more difficult to source for roles, becoming a bit more creative this process will be a key skill. For employers, this might mean starting to think about tangential skills or other people that could be cross-skilled, or different ways of bringing people in through existing pathways. Though some in-demand roles require specific training, such as power systems engineers, the majority of roles require skills that exist in various other industries. This includes electricians, general technicians, mechanical and electrical tradespeople and other trades roles that support the industry.
The Energy Transition report has achieved two major things:
- Highlighting the transferable nature of industry skills
- Demystifying the existing roles within the clean energy industry
Building a public face and creating an employer brand
The human capital is a huge part of the success of the energy transition. It’s not solely about technology and regulation. Instead by reconfiguring existing systems and creating new pathways, as an industry, we can adapt. To rectify these systems, the report centred around the following key recommendations:
- Improving local education and training
- Changing higher education business models
- Fixing skilled migration
Encouraging workers to transfer to the clean energy industry through environmental, social and governance incentives is another major focus for the CEC. Offering genuine career progression opportunities and pathways through the industry, having a diverse and inclusive workforce, having really good ESG principles in general, attracts people. For businesses looking to attract a larger workforce, improving job visibility by going out to schools and local councils, and telling a more coherent story about career opportunities within the industry. It’s vital to showcase the diverse and rewarding career opportunities available.
Unlocking Australia’s clean energy potential
Australia’s renewable energy sector is poised for significant growth, but the skills shortage poses a critical challenge. By prioritising education and training, promoting transferable career pathways, and encouraging diversity and inclusion, we can bridge the skills gap and unlock the sector’s full potential. Together, it’s possible to create a workforce that is equipped to drive the clean energy revolution and propel Australia towards a more sustainable future.
