Similar to a modern industrial revolution, the energy transition is redefining the global employment landscape. According to the International Energy Agency's "World Energy Employment 2023" report, the energy sector employs about 67 million people globally, with the workforce in the clean energy sector (35 million) now surpassing the one in the fossil fuel sectors (32 million) as of 2021. According to future forecasts cited in another IEA study ("Net Zero by 2050"), the transition to renewable energy could generate up to 14 million new jobs in the clean energy sector, displace about 5 million workers from the fossil fuel sector, and necessitate a skills upgrade for another 30 million workers.
Having ascertained, then, that this change will not only bring increased employment and the emergence of new job roles, but will also require an innovative approach to training and education to maximize these new opportunities, how widespread is the awareness of the need to acquire these new skills? And what skills are we talking about?
To answer these questions, during the recent COP28 in Dubai, Ilaria Catastini, General Manager of the MAIRE Foundation, and Nando Pagnoncelli, President of IPSOS Italy, presented the results of an international survey that examined perceptions in 10 different geographies about the importance and urgency of developing and renewing the skills needed to address the energy transition. «Climate challenges,» the authors explained, «require a rapid and inclusive response that embraces education for climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as the development of innovative solutions to reduce carbon emissions.» In the energy transition debate, the research highlighted how investment in education and international industry cooperation are essential to turn climate challenges into opportunities for economic and professional development.
To lead the energy transition, a high-tech background is not enough. It is necessary to train new skills that combine creativity and problem solving, critical thinking and a multidisciplinary approach with elements such as knowledge of sustainability issues, environmental impact analysis, and knowledge of alternative raw materials, the circular economy and renewable energy sources. There will therefore be more humanistic engineers who will take the reins of this new transformation.
The energy transition is not only an
environmental necessity, but also an opportunity for professional and human growth. According to a
recent study commissioned by the
MAIRE Foundation, the process of
decarbonizing the world economy –
as well as creating new jobs – will also require entirely new and advanced
skills. The research highlights how
humanistic engineering will become
critical in shaping the sustainable future we all hope for.
A theme known to 90%
To produce the report, interviews were conducted between September 22 and October 9, 2023, with 1,700 individuals spread across ten different nations: Italy, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, China, India, Algeria, the United States, and Chile. Participants were selected to ensure a balanced representation in terms of gender, age, geographic region, educational level and employment status. In addition, 15 opinion leaders in the field of sustainability and energy transition were interviewed from five countries (Italy, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, India, and the United States), representing three professional categories: academics, institutional figures, and private company executives.
The results of the study show that more than 90% of respondents said they are familiar with the energy transition. Familiarity with this topic is particularly high in developed economies such as the United States and India, both at 63%, followed by Italy and the United Kingdom with 60% and 59% respectively. In contrast, awareness falls below 50% in countries such as China, Chile and Turkey. The majority of respondents believe that energy transition is an important issue and for two-thirds of them it is a priority, with particular emphasis in Turkey and India, where 70% rate this transition as crucial, followed by other Asian, African and Latin American nations.
In our country, only 37% of the sample say they are aware of the positive impact of the energy transition on employment, while 55% of Saudis, 63% of Indians, 67% of Algerians and 53% of Chileans are. Moreover, 18% of Italians surveyed know of its positive impact on women's inclusion compared to 46% of Saudis, 51% of Indians, 32% of Algerians and 36% of Chileans. Nevertheless, a need for specific training is also emerging in Italy, although the perception of its importance and urgency is lower on average.
New jobs
Opinion leaders believe that Northern Europe, the United States and China have made the most progress in the energy transition. However, in Italy, the United Kingdom and even the United States, many consider their country's progress to be average or even lagging behind others. In contrast, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, India, and China see their own efforts as more advanced than the international average, tending to evaluate their progress with an overly positive assessment. In countries such as Chile, Algeria and Turkey, perceived to be further behind in the process, the need for energy transition is felt more by citizens than their governments.
With the exception of the Italians, who are more skeptical, respondents generally acknowledge that the energy transition will bring benefits in several areas, including economic, health and environmental. For most countries, excluding Italy, the most relevant aspect is the creation of new jobs, with particular interest in Algeria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and India. Despite this, there is a widespread perception that school and academic education is not evolving fast enough to meet the demands of the labor market.
The study shows that in Italy, Turkey, China, and Algeria, more than 85% of respondents believe there is a need to improve their skills related to the energy transition, while in other countries the percentage, while decreasing, remains high, exceeding 75%. The main parties responsible for education in this area are seen to be in central governments, indicated by 61% of respondents, followed by public entities such as research centers and universities, by 57% and 48%, respectively. The private sector also plays an important role, considered relevant by 40% of respondents. What about education? University education is seen as the most crucial, but the importance of instilling respect for the environment as early as elementary school is also recognized.
The skills needed
What are the skills required of these future energy transition professionals? They vary from country to country, but it is clear that technical and cross-disciplinary skills, hard skills and soft skills, must converge and are crucial. The emphasis on creativity (in the UK, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, India, and the UAE), problem-solving skills (in Italy, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, China, the US, and Chile), critical thinking (in the UK), and analytical skills signals the need for new professionals with a different mindset. The engineers who will take the reins of this new transformation will, therefore, be multidisciplinary and flexible, humanistic. While flexibility and the ability to work in a team are skills that are valued across the board, in Italy there is also an emphasis on knowledge of the regulatory framework and the ability to assess the local impact of the energy transition.
Regarding hard skills, the importance of assessing environmental impact and in-depth knowledge of raw materials and renewable energy sources are highlighted. In India, the United States and the United Arab Emirates, about half of the respondents place technical knowledge on a higher level than personal skills. However, in general, both types of skills are considered crucial, interacting in what the MAIRE Foundation calls a "humanist engineer": a professional who integrates human considerations and social welfare into decision-making processes and the development of sustainable solutions. The training of these humanist engineers is at the heart of the educational and cultural initiatives of the MAIRE Foundation, which supports specific courses in schools and universities for this purpose.
The role of information and companies
In terms of information, television and national newspapers are the main sources regarded as trustworthy in Asian countries, while in Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States more credit is given to specialized journals and academic publications. Research centers and foundations are valued for their potential to complement formal education and reach a wider audience through diversified educational offerings. For example, the MAIRE group collaborates with more than 24 universities globally and uses Open Innovation platforms to stimulate research and development, promoting innovation in the energy transition.
There is a prevailing belief among respondents that companies bear most of the costs associated with the energy transition. Over the past three years, there has been a growing commitment to the sector by private companies rather than by policymakers, particularly in nations such as Italy, Turkey, India, and Chile. There is a general consensus that in order to effectively manage the energy transition, companies must embrace renewable energy, ensure transparent reporting, develop the necessary skills internally, and promote cultural change externally as well.
The study also highlights the need to raise awareness about the energy transition through multi-level cooperation between local authorities, central governments, private companies and international organizations. This includes simplifying bureaucratic procedures, implementing clear regulations and creating common digital platforms. Respondents believe there is no need to establish new entities, but rather to strengthen existing ones, such as the UN, UNFCCC, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Union for the Mediterranean and the European Union, the latter of which opinion leaders believe is the most effective among global players.
An opportunity for gender
Currently, women make up only 16% of the workforce in the energy sector. Interviews show that creating job opportunities for women is seen as the least relevant benefit, with considerable variation in levels of interest: it is a particularly important issue in India and Saudi Arabia, while receiving less attention in the United Kingdom, China and, even less so, in Italy. Nevertheless, the emergence of new professions in the energy sector could open up significant opportunities for young women, especially through targeted university pathways.
In this context, the MAIRE Foundation is actively engaged in education, promoting female students' access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines. In Italy, the Foundation has launched an initiative in collaboration with ENEA aimed at educating female high school students in STEM subjects and the topics of energy efficiency and transition, with more than 2,000 hours of lessons already delivered. Additionally, according to the MAIRE Foundation, the use of technology is as important as the development of new solutions, and a broader technical response to climate change is needed, focusing both on how people use technology, products, and infrastructure and on the design of next-generation technologies, products, and services that are low-carbon.
At the conclusion of the proceedings, Fabrizio Di Amato, Chairman of the MAIRE group and MAIRE Foundation, commented on the study's findings, «To address the energy transition and the shift to Net Zero we must embrace the concept of the 'humanist engineer' as a new agent of transformation. These people will know how to navigate complexity and find solutions that include technological innovation, and attention to economic, environmental, social, and cultural needs. Our Group is actively committed to the training and involvement of the younger generation, who will be the effective drivers of change. Furthermore, we pay specific attention to the potential that innovation in the field of energy transition offers in terms of the inclusion of female talent. All these aspects are priorities of our strategic plan, with the goal of generating a positive impact both through our technologies and through the work of our foundation. The skills we are able to create today will make a real difference in achieving the goals we have set for 2050. »
The new generations lead sustainable development