Global solar PV employment up to nearly 4 million in 2020 – IRENA

October 25, 2021
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
More people were employed in solar than any other renewables sector in 2020, IRENA said. Image: CS Energy.

Despite delays and supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19, global solar PV employment increased by 6% last year to reach nearly 4 million, according to a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Rising from the 3.75 million jobs in 2019, solar continued to account for the largest share of employment positions of all renewables technologies last year.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Released in collaboration with the International Labour Organization, the report shows that China, the leading manufacturer of PV equipment and largest solar installation market, accounted for about 58% of PV employment worldwide, or some 2.3 million jobs.

Although total solar employment grew globally, the second and third markets in IRENA’s ranking, the US and Japan, both saw a reduction in PV jobs last year, falling to 231,000 and 220,000, respectively. The US Department of Energy, however, said in July that solar employers in the country are expecting to bounce back this year.

Also in the top 10 countries for solar employment – which together accounted for 85% of the global total – last year were India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Brazil, Malaysia, Germany and Australia, according to IRENA.

Reflecting the region’s dominance in solar manufacturing and strong deployment figures, Asia accounted for 79% of the world’s PV jobs in 2020. It was followed by the Americas with 9%, Europe (6%) and the rest of the world (6%).

“Renewable energy’s ability to create jobs and meet climate goals is beyond doubt. With COP26 in front of us, governments must raise their ambition to reach net zero,” said Francesco la Camera, IRENA director-general.

A study published earlier this year suggested that a global shift to 100% renewables by 2050 could lead to a nearly 10-fold increase in the number of solar PV jobs.

Read Next

Premium
October 21, 2025
PV Tech Premium spoke with academic and industry experts about the rising tide of cybersecurity concerns in Europe's solar energy sector.
October 20, 2025
Details of tariffs on US imports of polysilicon products may be announced as early as the end of this month, according to a note from investment bank Roth Capital.
October 15, 2025
A report by IRENA and others has highlighted the need for yearly renewable energy deployments to almost double between now and 2030.
October 13, 2025
Two Chinese state-owned energy enterprises have signed cooperation agreements on PV and wind power projects with Saudi companies, with the total contract value exceeding RMB30 billion (US$4.2 billion). 
October 9, 2025
Chinese inverter and storage manufacturer Sungrow has revealed details of its planned flotation on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
October 9, 2025
The retroactive collection of duties on historical solar imports to the US has been temporarily paused pending the outcome of an appeal.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 10, 2026
Frankfurt, Germany