Labour implications of the net-zero transition and clean energy exports in Australia

• Published in: Energy research & social science 2024-06, Vol.112, p.103506, Article 103506
• Main Authors: McCoy, Julian, Davis, Dominic, Mayfield, Erin, Brear, Michael J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Employment; Exports; Hydrogen; Labour; Net-zero emissions
• ISSN: 2214-6296; 2214-6326
• DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103506

We examine the employment implications of a domestic net-zero transition and establishment of clean energy export systems for an historically significant energy exporting country, through a case study of Australia. The labour impacts of a multi-decadal transition are simulated across both the domestic and export energy systems, considering a wide range of energy technologies, resources and activities, with assessment according to occupation, lifecycle stage, education and skill requirements. Across all net-zero scenario pathways, by mid-century, the total gross employment created for the domestic and export sectors comprises 210–490 thousand jobs and 350–510 thousand jobs, respectively. This represents a significant expansion of energy sector employment from the current total of 120 thousand across domestic and export sectors, an increase from less than 1 % of the total Australian workforce in 2020 to 3–4 % by 2060. The need to build out energy system infrastructure at large-scale over a number of decades results in construction jobs continuing over that timeframe and a subsequent need for a large ongoing operations and maintenance workforce for new energy system assets. Those employed in domestic energy markets work primarily in utility solar PV, onshore wind, batteries and electricity transmission and distribution activities, while export market jobs are dominated by clean hydrogen production and shipping supply chains. Crucially, these export jobs are unevenly distributed across the country, in regions of highest quality solar resource. All states and territories experience net job growth across each decade to 2060. However, in a few sub-state regions, net job losses occur in the short-term.