Over 93% of employees in the renewables sector feel “engaged at work”, according to a survey by Airswift and Energy Jobline.
The ‘2020 Global Energy Talent Index’ found that 42% of professionals in renewables said their organisation values them a lot and 86% would consider relocating for a better opportunity.
Opportunities for career progression was the top reason employees chose renewables, the survey found.
It also found that 72% of respondents foresee pay increases in 2020 – the most optimistic energy sector in terms of pay.
However, optimism and engagement won’t be enough to attract and retain a diverse workforce, with 80% of respondents saying they would consider switching to another sector in the next three years.
The survey said the second most cited factor of professionals’ engagement is training and development opportunities, yet 39% of renewables professionals claimed that employers do not regularly invest in their development and one-in-four claim not to have received any training in the past year.
Power and oil and gas remain the biggest sources of competition for talent, winning the votes of 46% and 40% of those open to switching sectors, respectively
Airswift chief executive Janette Marx said: “Once again, the renewables sector can be proud of some very promising results.
“It boasts a highly-engaged workforce that is ambitious to keep on growing an industry it believes in.
“But it is important that they do not take this for granted. ‘Hard’ cultural concerns like remuneration, training and development and career progression opportunities are very much on professionals’ agendas.
“Renewables companies will need to pay close attention to their offers if they want to keep their employees this highly motivated as the sector comes of age.”
Energy Jobline managing director Hannah Peet said: “Competition for talent in the energy industry keeps getting tougher and tougher, but renewables employers are well set up to succeed.
“Not only is the workforce highly engaged, but the natural evolution of the market should continue to provide plenty of opportunities for professionals to progress their careers.
“That said, companies shouldn’t rely on this alone to get them through; packages need to be as competitive as anywhere else on the market so they don’t get left behind.”
Airswift and Energy Jobline surveyed 21,000 energy professionals and hiring managers in 169 countries across five industry sub-sectors – oil and gas, renewables, power, nuclear and petrochemicals.