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Joint statement: Industry backs in new effort to count all Aussie energy jobs 07 October 2021

A coalition of leading industry groups and universities today called on governments to support the proposed Australian Energy and Employment Report, to ensure Australia is positioned to capture an energy jobs boom.

Yesterday, the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre published a report showing that the potential to grow Australian energy jobs is vast. Indeed, by some counts, up to 200,000 jobs could be created by 2030, with much of this growth fuelled by export opportunities for new energy products and services.

However, the report also found that current data around Australia’s energy workforce is poor, and a major new study is needed so that industry, government and education providers can avoid skills shortages and capture this economic opportunity as the energy sector continues to grow over the coming decade.

This finding from RACE for 2030 is timely, and action from government to commission the proposed Australian Energy and Employment Report is urgent. It will demonstrate the size and composition of Australia’s energy workforce, allowing industry, government and education providers to properly understand the current state of energy sector employment, consider future needs in this rapidly transforming sector, and ensure that we have the information we need to develop an appropriately sized and skilled energy work force for the 2020s and beyond.

This effort would represent global leadership, making Australia the first country to adopt the United States’ gold standard methodology for counting energy sector jobs, which many international experts believe should become the de facto standard for such studies around the world.

It will also take a holistic view of energy jobs in both SMEs and big business, providing granular detail on employment in established areas such as fuels, generation and networks, as well as emerging areas like storage, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, hydrogen and energy management, which are all playing an increasingly crucial role in Australia’s energy sector.

With Australia emerging from its first recession in 30 years, there is no time to waste. Prompt action from government will ensure that we have the information we need to capture this huge economic opportunity in our energy sector, for the benefit of all Australians.

Joint statement made by the:

  • Australian Council of Trade Unions
  • Australian Energy Council
  • Australian Industry Group
  • Australian Power Institute
  • Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council
  • Clean Energy Council
  • Energy Efficiency Council
  • Electric Vehicle Council
  • Facility Management Association of Australia
  • Green Building Council of Australia
  • UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures

/ENDS

For further information contact:

Holly Taylor
Head of Projects
Energy Efficiency Council

0481 346 145
holly.taylor@eec.org.au