EN 
PT_BR 
Renewable sources continue to bring socioeconomic benefits around the world with the creation of around 11.5 million jobs worldwide last year.
In 2018, this number was approximately 11 million. The survey was carried out by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency).
Also according to the agency, photovoltaic solar energy led the numbers, with approximately 3.8 million jobs, representing a third of the total.
“Adopting renewables creates jobs and increases local incomes in developed and developing energy markets. While today we see a handful of countries leading the way, every nation can harness its renewable potential, with measures to leverage local capabilities for industrial development and train its workers,” said Francesco La Camera, Director General of IRENA.
Last year, 63% of all renewable energy jobs were recorded in Asia, confirming the region's status as a market leader.
The report also highlighted that biofuels jobs followed closely behind solar energy, reaching 2.5 million.
Many of these jobs are in agricultural supply chain, especially in countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, with labor-intensive operations.
Other major employers in the renewables market are the hydroelectric and wind industries, with around 2 million and 1.2 million jobs respectively.
Job generation in Brazil
The study also pointed out that renewables were responsible for generating 1.2 million jobs in 2019 in Brazil.
The Brazilian photovoltaic market represented around 43.2 thousand jobs. The states that hired the most were Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo and Paraná.
Regarding the biofuels sector, the report indicated that this segment generated 839 thousand jobs in the country. Hydroelectric created 213 thousand jobs and wind created 19 thousand.
Participation of women in the market
The research also highlighted that women hold 32% of total jobs, as opposed to 21% in the fossil fuel sectors.
This demonstrates greater inclusion and a better gender balance in the renewable energy sector.
The survey also showed that spending U$ 1 million on renewable sources creates, on average, 7.49 full-time jobs, almost triple the average number of jobs generated in fossil fuels, which is 2.65.
Energy future
According to IRENA, the need to chart a different course is undeniable, as are the benefits to be reaped.
The recently launched IRENA Post-COVID Recovery Agenda showed that an ambitious stimulus program could create up to 5.5 million more jobs over the next three years than a business-as-usual approach.
Intensified investment in the energy transition could also increase jobs in renewable energy to almost 30 million by 2030 and to 42 million in 2050, as projected by the Global Renewables Outlook.
“The world has seen encouraging growth in renewable jobs. But, it can generate much greater jobs by adopting a comprehensive policy framework that boosts the energy transition”, highlighted Francesco La Camera”.
“Never has the importance of such momentum been clearer than at this important moment. Even while the world is still dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, humanity receives almost daily reminders of what awaits us if we fail to address growing climate disruptions,” concluded La Camera.
