The talent tug of war: renewable energy and oil & gas in the global hiring arena
As the global energy transition accelerates, a fierce competition is emerging—not over barrels or megawatts, but over people. The renewable energy and oil & gas sectors are locked in a high-stakes talent tug of war, each vying for a limited pool of skilled professionals to power their future ambitions. With both industries undergoing rapid transformation, the battle for engineers, technicians, and digital experts is reshaping recruitment strategies and workforce dynamics worldwide.
Renewables on the rise: A workforce boom
The renewable energy sector is experiencing explosive growth. According to the IRENA–ILO Annual Review 2024, global renewable energy employment surged by 18% in 2023, reaching 16.2 million jobs. Solar PV leads the charge with 7.2 million jobs, followed by liquid biofuels (2.8 million), hydropower (2.3 million), wind (1.5 million), and geothermal (0.1 million).
Yet, this growth is not without its challenges. 70–75% of renewable energy employers report difficulty finding qualified candidates and the most in-demand roles span technical trades (e.g., wind turbine technicians, solar PV installers), engineering (power systems, grid integration), IT (cybersecurity, software development), and professional services (ESG analysts, sustainability consultants).
Oil & gas: resilient, evolving, and still hiring
Despite the global push for decarbonization, the oil and gas industry is still evolving. In 2023, fossil fuel supply added 590,000 jobs, bringing the global oil & gas workforce to 12.4 million. Hiring has rebounded post-pandemic, driven by large-scale LNG and upstream projects in North America, the Middle East, and Latin America.
However, the sector faces its own talent crunch. Nearly half of oil & gas companies cite a lack of qualified personnel as a top challenge. The aging workforce compounds this issue—27% of energy workers are over 55, and the U.S. alone expects 400,000 retirements in the next decade.
Digital disruption: A common battleground
Both sectors are undergoing digital revolutions. In renewables, AI, IoT, and automation are reshaping operations—from predictive maintenance to smart grid management. Over 90% of renewable workers believe digitalization will benefit their roles. Similarly, 94% of oil & gas professionals expect AI to increase demand for software developers, data scientists, and cybersecurity experts.
This convergence has intensified the competition for digital talent. Engineers, programmers, and data analysts are now courted by both industries, with oil & gas firms in particular offering flexible work, global mobility, and high compensation to stay competitive.
Conclusion: A shared future
Many energy companies have vested interests in both camps, and it is important to note that the global energy transition is not a zero-sum game—but the talent market often feels like one. As clean energy scales up and oil & gas adapts to a lower-carbon future, both sectors must navigate overlapping skill needs, demographic shifts, and evolving worker expectations. The winners in this tug of war will be those who invest in people as much as in projects—offering not just jobs, but purpose, growth, and adaptability in a rapidly changing world. The common theme will be that ‘green skills’ are now required across the whole energy landscape and roles focused on decarbonization, carbon capture and digitalization will be of high value and critical to the future of both the renewables and oil and gas sectors.
The challenges in the talent market for energy are significant and will remain so for decades to come. At AMS we help many leading organizations in the energy, engineering & industrials sectors define and deliver their TA strategies so they can achieve their business vision. Let’s talk about how you could achieve yours.
