Ameresco’s New Empowered Futures: 2024 Clean Energy Career Report Reveals Gen Z and Millennial Demand for Impact-Driven Careers
Nearly 9 in 10 young workers say aligning their careers with their values is essential, but potential roadblocks could keep them from joining the renewable energy industry
Key Findings
- Demand for Impact: 88% of young workers say their careers need to align with their values.
- Misconceptions Persist: Over half of respondents believe they need an engineering (55%) or science degree (54%) to pursue a career in clean energy, highlighting a need for better education on the diverse roles within the sector.
- Confusion About Clean Energy: When asked what comes to mind first about clean energy jobs, 23% mentioned types of energy, 22% mentioned employment, 20% mentioned the environment, and 8% mentioned cleaning—revealing a lack of understanding of what clean energy careers truly involve.
- Ready for Clean Energy: 74% of Millennials and Gen Z say developing skills for a clean energy career would not be difficult.
This report comes at a pivotal moment for the clean energy sector, which is experiencing rapid growth. According to the
Clear Demand for Impact, Yet Barriers Remain
Despite this clear demand for meaningful work, the survey reveals widespread misconceptions about the qualifications needed for clean energy careers.
More than 50% of Generation Z and Millennials mistakenly believe that a background in engineering or science is essential to pursue a career in clean energy, overlooking the diverse opportunities available in this rapidly growing field. This misconception highlights the need for greater awareness about the variety of roles that contribute to the clean energy sector, many of which do not require specialized degrees. By broadening the understanding of career paths in clean energy, we can attract a more diverse and inclusive workforce, driving innovation and progress in this vital industry.
"This report highlights how clean energy careers can serve as the ultimate motivator for today’s ‘impact generations’ — offering the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our communities and our planet," said
Clean Energy: A Sector Ready for Talent
The Empowered Futures: 2024 Clean Energy Career Report also found that the majority of Millennials and Gen Z feel positive about the prospect of working in the clean energy sector. More than 80% agree that working in clean energy would be a good career path, with nearly half of those respondents saying it “definitely would be.”
Methodology
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