EU green economy employed 5.8 million people in 2023, led by construction and agriculture

Brussels – The green economy of the European Union continues to attract a growing number of workers, reaching a record 5.8 million employees in full-time equivalent terms (a measure that also accounts for part-time contracts by converting them into full-time equivalents). This represents almost 2 million more employees than in 2014, growing at an average annual rate of 6 per cent.

This upward trend is confirmed by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, in the data released today (4 June). The figures are being published during a week of symbolic significance for raising awareness of environmental issues: this week in Brussels is EU Green Week (Sustainability Week) and tomorrow is World Environment Day.

Eurostat figures show that the construction sector led employment growth in the green economy. Over nine years, full-time employment rose from 0.7 million in 2014 to 1.6 million in 2023, with an average annual growth rate of 11 per cent. Driven by activities such as constructing energy-efficient buildings, installing renewable energy systems, and refurbishment projects, the construction sector also tops the rankings in absolute employment: no other green economy sector employs more than 1.6 million workers.

In second place,  in terms of percentage growth, is the agricultural sector. Together with forestry and fishing, the number of workers employed in these sectors grew at an average annual rate of 5 per cent, from 400,000 in 2014 to 700,000 in 2023. The same growth rate was recorded by the green manufacturing sector, whose workforce reached 1 million in 2023, up from 0.7 million nine years earlier.

Less significant but nonetheless noteworthy is the progress made in public administration and defence (from 300,000 to 400,000 employees), technical and scientific activities (from 200,000 to 300,000 employees), services (from 1.2 million to 1.4 million employees), and education (from 50,000 to 70,000 employees).

The second part of the Eurostat report offers an alternative interpretation of the figures released today, analysing them from the perspective of the environmental objectives pursued by each sector of employment.

From this perspective, the renewable energy sector recorded the greatest growth in employment: over nine years, the number of workers increased by 79 per cent, from 0.4 million in 2014 to 0.8 million employees in 2023. Also making it onto the podium are soil protection and surface and groundwater protection (+60 per cent, from 400,000 employees to 700,000 employees) and air and climate protection (+48 per cent, from just under 200,000 employees to almost 300,000 employees).

Although to a lesser extent, the materials recycling sector (+47 per cent), wastewater management (+38 per cent), and waste management (+30 per cent) are also recording growth. The latter also tops the ranking in terms of absolute numbers of workers: in 2023, it employed 0.9 million people.