The amount of energy engineers needed to manage the evolution of fossil fuels for sustainable energy by 2030 is equivalent to double the number of these professionals today. Between 450,000 and 1.5 million experts in this area will be needed according to a Kearney study in collaboration with IEEE Power and Energy Society released on Tuesday (30). In Brazil, 7.5 million vacancies should be created.
Disclosed exclusively by Infomoneythe survey “The Future of Energy Labor” was developed from sector data, analyzes, observations and research with almost 200 senior executives and engineers in the sector, as well as more than 770 engineering experts in 37 countries.
For 40% of respondents, the insufficiently qualified workforce and talent competition are already challenges to fill the vacancies. “With massive technological advances in the need for electricity in the coming years, leaders in the global energy sector need to understand the magnitude of the approaching talents scarcity,” says Kearney’s energy, electricity and utility partner Claudio Gonçalves.
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“There are simply not enough engineers with the skills and ability to implement the changes required in this decade – and this gap is growing,” he says. It is estimated that the demand for electricity will increase more than 50% by 2040.
The research understood that despite the high demand for professionals in the field, there is difficulty in recruiting and retention of these specialists. Since 2021, the study points out, almost half of all energy engineers has changed jobs within the company, exchanged a company or left the sector completely. Burnout, little stimulating work and difficulty making a side transition were the most cited reasons.
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Brazilian scenario
Brazil has the goal of generating 81% energy via renewable sources by 2029, the country is investing about US $ 100 billion through energy auctions and competitive energy purchase agreements. The effect of investments should be the generation of more than 7.5 million new jobs over the decade.
Kearney and IEEE PES have heard more than two dozen executives in Brazil – and in countries such as Germany, India, Lebanon, Pakistan, Panama, South Africa and the US – and have seen that changes in national energy policies are boosting high investments in energy infrastructure, leading to job creation in various domains of the sector.
