Workers require upskilling and reskilling
The global shift towards renewable energy and the push for greater efficiency requires workers to integrate digital tools with sustainability expertise. The 2024 Global Energy Talent Index reports that 92% of workers in the Energy industry anticipate they will need new skills in IT, programming, creativity and critical thinking, due to the adoption of AI9.
The International Energy Agency reports that the Utilities and Manufacturing sub-industry plays a significant role in recruitment across solar, wind, heat pumps and the batteries and electric vehicle sectors, accounting for up to 67% of job postings within these clean technologies—with some roles now demanding specialist digital skills, including AI and machine learning10. For example, wind turbine technicians increasingly require proficiency in augmented reality (AR) interfaces—skills that are less common in traditional fossil fuel roles11. This is also in contrast to industries such as Manufacturing, where automation often replaces repetitive tasks without stimulating significant upskilling of the existing workforce.
In Mining, front line workers are increasingly having to learn how to manage and maintain autonomous equipment, while engineers and analysts are focusing on strategic decision-making rather than manual data analysis12.
