The EU solar sector employed a record 865,000 people in 2024, according to SolarPower Europe.
The figure represents a 5% increase on 2023, with 86% of jobs in deployment, and outperformed the wider EU labour market’s 0.8% growth.
However, the group’s annual EU Solar Jobs report warned that for the first time in a decade, solar employment will contract in 2025, with jobs expected to fall 5% to around 825,000.
The decline reflects a projected 1.5% slowdown in solar market growth, linked to weakening residential rooftop demand and manufacturing competitiveness challenges.
SolarPower Europe said the downturn means the sector will miss its previous forecast of one million jobs by 2027, now only likely achievable from 2030.
Chief executive Walburga Hemetsberger said: “In 2025, solar delivers 825,000 quality jobs for Europe. That is incredible. However, this falls short of the 1 million solar job mark we were hoping to reach by now, and for the first time in a decade, solar jobs growth has halted. We can’t ignore this warning.”
Germany remained the largest EU solar employer in 2024 with 128,000 jobs, despite a 17% drop year-on-year. Spain ranked second with 122,000, followed by Italy, which is expected to overtake Spain by 2029.
Poland fell to fourth place with about 90,000 solar workers as its residential rooftop segment contracted. France, Romania and Hungary completed the top seven national workforces.
The report forecasts that EU solar jobs will recover to 916,000 by 2029, supported by stable growth and a stronger policy framework.
Recommendations include a European Solar Skills Intelligence Hub, scaled-up funding for renewable skills, retraining agreements, gender diversity initiatives, and an EU solar skills passport.