The fifth annual Global Energy Talent Index (GETI) report has revealed renewables professionals remain unfazed by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The report, produced by Airswift and Energy Jobline, also shows that 77% of those working in renewables believe that the sector has grown over the past year and 85% expect it to grow further over the next three years.
Airswift and Energy Jobline surveyed 16,000 energy professionals and hiring managers in 166 countries across oil and gas, renewables, power, nuclear and petrochemicals.
The survey found that renewables professionals and hiring managers do acknowledge the pandemic as a potential barrier to growth, with 56% citing it as among the biggest challenges facing the sector.
However, 66% said they are confident that their employers are resilient to change.
Around 70% of respondents said advances in engineering and technologies are among the most important opportunities facing renewables over the next three years.
Airswift CEO Janette Marx said: “There is no denying that this has been a challenging year for the energy industry, and Covid-19-related instability is certainly being felt by the workforce.
“Yet the energy transition leaves renewables businesses well positioned to grow over the coming years.
“Of course, the transition takes time and there are challenges along the way – Covid-19 and the availability of capital chief among them.
“However, renewables professionals are motivated by the longer-term opportunities on offer – and the potential for engineering and technological innovations to help seize them is really exciting.”
Other key insights from the GETI study found more professionals reported a pay increase (35%) than a decrease (16%).
Power and oil and gas remain the biggest sources of competition for talent, winning the votes of 54% and 33% of those open to switching sectors, respectively.
Josh Young, director at Energy Jobline, added: “Renewables businesses have a huge opportunity in the years ahead, but only if they continue to build upon their efforts to recruit bright young people.
“This means increasing the emphasis on the innovative nature of the work and on the role of digital technology in providing new and stimulating career paths that can extend far into the future.”