Summary

 In 2024, around 442,800 jobs across Europe were associated with wind energy, of which around 210,700 were direct jobs and around 232,100 were indirect jobs. Onshore wind accounted for around 161,300 direct and 185,500 indirect jobs, while offshore wind accounted for around 49,400 direct and 46,600 indirect jobs. Across the wind farm lifecycle, manufacturing was the largest single employer, with nearly half of all direct jobs (around 100,100).

 

To quantify and structure this workforce, QBIS analysed the hour-by-hour labour input across each phase of wind farm development — from planning and development through to decommissioning. Based on an industry-wide data call, QBIS produced an annual breakdown of hours per GW of installations across 500+ identified jobs, which was then converted into full-time equivalent (FTE) employment per GW for each year. Around 235 job profiles were mapped across all lifecycle phases, with labour input calculated across 34 components and activities for both fixed and floating offshore as well as onshore wind. Each job profile was crosswalked to major international classification systems, including ISCO-08, ESCO, SOC 2010 and NACE Rev. 2.

 

The analysis reveals significant projected skills gaps. By 2030, wind energy employment in Europe is projected to reach around 607,000 jobs — a 36% increase — assuming an average of 30 GW installed annually between 2025 and 2030. Critical shortages are expected in roles such as blade technicians, field engineers and commissioning technicians, where current workforce levels fall well short of projected demand. 

​

Publication

The results of the study were presented in WindEurope's publication Europe's Wind Energy Workforce Report, published in December 2025. The study results are intended to be shared with anybody having interests in using its content to support the development of wind energy in Europe and to anybody contributing to the development of the skilled workforce needed for Europe to achieve its wind energy ambitions. 

​

Project purpose and objectives

The purpose of the study is two-fold. First, to provide an assessment of the labour input associated with onshore and offshore wind energy across Europe — both today and through 2030 — and hence the employment footprint of the sector. Second, through facilitating highly detailed, granular assessments of labour inputs at the level of individual job profiles and lifecycle phases, to provide aid for avoiding labour market bottlenecks in terms of labour shortages and skill gaps, and for preparing and implementing educational and training programmes to meet labour demand from the wind energy industry.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​