EU Green Economy Workforce Expands Rapidly, Reaching 5.8 Million Jobs in 2023

Employment across the European Union’s green economy has continued its strong upward trajectory, growing at an average annual rate of 6 per cent since 2014 and reaching 5.8 million full-time equivalent positions by 2023, according to the latest data released by Eurostat.

The findings, based on the European environmental goods and services sector accounts, provide insight into the industries generating the greatest number of green jobs and those recording the most notable growth over the past decade.

Among all sectors, construction emerged as the strongest performer between 2014 and 2023. Employment in environmentally focused construction activities more than doubled during the period, increasing from 0.7 million to 1.6 million full-time equivalent jobs. This represented an average annual growth rate of 11 per cent, making it the fastest-growing sector in terms of workforce expansion. Construction also became the largest source of green employment, covering activities such as the development of energy-efficient buildings, the construction of renewable energy facilities, and projects aimed at improving energy performance through refurbishment.

The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector also recorded substantial progress. Green employment in these activities reached 0.7 million full-time equivalents in 2023 and achieved the second-highest annual growth rate over the nine-year period, averaging 5 per cent per year.

Green manufacturing ranked as the third fastest-growing activity in relative terms. Employment in this sector rose from 0.7 million full-time equivalent jobs in 2014 to 1.0 million in 2023, corresponding to an average annual increase of 5 per cent.

Eurostat’s analysis further examined employment according to specific environmental objectives. The renewable energy sector experienced the largest increase over the period, with employment rising from 0.4 million to 0.8 million full-time equivalents between 2014 and 2023. This represented a growth rate of 79 per cent.

Jobs linked to the protection of soil, surface water and groundwater recorded the second-largest increase. Employment in this area expanded from 0.4 million to 0.7 million full-time equivalents, marking growth of 60 per cent over the period.

Other environmental domains also posted significant gains. Employment related to air and climate protection increased by 48 per cent, while jobs connected to materials recovery and resource savings rose by 47 per cent when compared with 2014 levels.

Wastewater management likewise experienced notable expansion, with employment increasing by 38 per cent to reach 0.5 million full-time equivalent positions by 2023.

The waste management sector also continued to grow steadily, recording a 30 per cent increase in employment over the decade. By 2023, it had become the largest environmental employment domain within the European Union, supporting 0.9 million full-time equivalent jobs and accounting for 16 per cent of all environmental employment across the bloc.

The latest figures underline the accelerating growth of sustainable industries throughout the European Union and highlight the continuing shift toward a greener labour market as environmental activities play an increasingly important role in employment generation across the region.

By fLEXI tEAM