The number of jobs in the electricity sector is set to double by 2029 according to recent research from the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), in collaboration with the Australian Energy Market Operator.

The study, facilitated by the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre (RACE for 2030), shows that the nation might soon face a concerning lack of specific electrical skills needed to manage Australia’s energy transition.

“The transition to a clean energy future presents a huge opportunity for Australia both in terms of job creation and economic growth. We need to act now to address the potential skills shortages to ensure we can deliver this transition and realise the benefits,” ISF research director and chief investigator of the study Jay Rutovitz says.

The finding means an increase of 33,000 electricity sector jobs in just five years in the most likely scenario of the 2024 Integrated System Plan. Most of these new jobs will be in renewable energy, with wind, solar and battery storage dominating.

The rapid expansion of the renewable energy sector is expected to place significant strain on the labour market.

Key challenges identified in the report include skills shortages, with the demand for a range of skilled workers potentially causing project delays, and the construction-heavy nature of renewable energy projects seeing a highly variable workforce with a risk of boom-bust cycles.

Additionally, regional challenges have been identified with many renewable energy projects located in remote areas potentially causing higher competition for labour with infrastructure projects in big cities.

To manage these challenges, the report has recommended streamlining the development pipeline, with federal and state governments implementing policies for smoother development of renewable energy projects over time.

The full report and individual state reports can be read at the RACE for 2030 website.