The European wind energy sector has created 33 new jobs every day for the past five years, according to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). According to the EWEA, jobs in wind energy will more than double from 154,000 to 325,000 by 2020.

In 2007, wind energy increased more than any other power generating technology in the European Union (EU). The growth in installed wind capacity has been matched by an increase in related jobs. According to EWEA, the sector employed 154,000 people in 2007 – 108,600 in direct jobs and the rest indirectly.

In terms of job profiles, the report shows that turbine manufacturers are the main employers, with 37% of all direct jobs, followed by component manufacturers and project developers. Where the Member States are concerned, currently 75% of all direct wind energy jobs are to be found in the three ‘pioneer’ countries of Denmark, Germany and Spain, but other countries, such as France, the UK and Italy are now beginning to catch up.

Francis Robberechts, Vice President of CG Power EMEA, said wind energy is an important contributor to his company’s workforce – 20-30% of the 1,000 employees at its Belgium site are engaged in long-term wind energy projects.

Wind energy can give a huge boost to economic welfare, offering greater energy independence, lower energy costs, reduced fuel price risks, improved competitiveness, technology exports and new jobs. EWEA focuses on just one of the many economic benefits of the industry, revealing the full extent of the effect that supporting and developing wind energy has on employment in the EU.

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