The demand for labour in the solar and wind energy sectors continued to increase
Not only has the demand for new workers in the solar and wind energy sectors continued to rise, but companies are also increasingly lacking employees with specific knowledge. As the job monitor of the Bertelsmann Foundation in Gütersloh shows on Wednesday, every fourth online job posting (24.5 percent) for roofers is for a solar company.
At the same time, roofers who have previously covered single-family houses with roof tiles and made factory roofs weatherproof are not automatically qualified for installing photovoltaic systems, the foundation explained.
It's similar in the wind energy sector, which is urgently seeking electricians. However, while employees in the building electrical trade were previously in demand for electrical installations and the assembly of electrical equipment, the commissioning and maintenance of wind turbines are central for the wind sector, as the study further states.
In 2019, only 9.8 percent of job postings in the roofing sector had a solar reference. In the field of electrical engineering, the proportion rose from three percent to 13.8 percent last year. In the case of skilled workers for renewable energy technology, almost three out of four job postings already have a reference to the solar industry.
To achieve climate neutrality by 2045 and bring about the energy transition, Germany needs an additional 300,000 skilled workers, according to the foundation's figures. However, even if sufficient skilled workers were trained in traditional craft professions, there would still be a skills gap, the study authors explained.
The Bertelsmann Foundation therefore calls for more targeted further training for the relevant sectors. These should be aimed at both people with completed vocational training and those with professional experience but without recognized qualifications. In particular, specific knowledge is needed in the solar sector among skilled workers.
The European Union, recognizing the global push towards renewable energy, has expressed interest in addressing the skills gap in solar and wind energy sectors. The European Union is keen on ensuring that its member states have enough skilled workers to meet their renewable energy goals.
