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Wind Industry Celebrates One Million Jobs

15/06/2016
Wind Industry Celebrates One Million Jobs

Global wind employment grew 5% last year to reach 1.1M

Ingeteam totalled 1,616 jobs, a 14% increase over 2014

Record wind industry growth was reflected in a 5% increase in employment in the sector, which now employs 1.1 million[1] people. Today, on Global Wind Day, GWEC highlights the socio-economic benefits generated by the global wind industry, in addition to supplying clean power. Global Wind Day is a worldwide event that occurs annually on 15 June: a day for discovering wind energy, its power and the possibilities it holds to reshape our energy systems, decarbonise our economies, build new industries and create new jobs.

The increase in employment figures is mainly due to strong installation rates in China, the US and Germany. New job creation is being driven by declining renewable energy technology costs and enabling policy frameworks. As governments continue to struggle with high unemployment rates in many parts of the world, both the current reality and future potential for employment in the wind industry has become increasingly significant.

 “We are getting bigger, better and cheaper. The wind industry has witnessed record growth in recent years which not only helps the world to meet the climate goals agreed in Paris but also generates much needed new jobs and boosts local economies, to the tune of about US$ 110 billion last year”, said Steve Sawyer, GWEC Secretary General.

 “The number of employees directly employed by Ingeteam has grown 70% over the past 10 years, at a time when overall employment has stagnated and in stark contrast with depressed labour markets in the broader energy sector. In the past year alone, the Ingeteam Group has added over 500 jobs, a 17% increase over 2014, totalling 3,798. Almost 40% of those jobs are attributable to Wind power, a 14% increase to reach 1,616 in total. 2015 was a big year for Ingeteam and for the wind industry in general and these figures clearly show wind energy can bring wealth, jobs and prosperity into local economies around the world”, commented Jesús Mayor, Ingeteam Wind Managing Director.

In the meantime, corporations are increasingly investing in wind energy. Clean energy procurement is standard practice for some of the largest and most profitable companies in the world, including Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Lego, AT&T, DuPont, General Motors, HP, Sprint, and Walmart.

Wind power was the largest source of new power generation in 2015. Led by wind, renewables are transforming the power sector bringing along a host of other environmental, social, and economic benefits across the globe. The macroeconomic effects are increasingly a factor in political decision making about our future energy choices.


[1] IRENA: Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review 2016
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