In this study, CE Delft, commissioned by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, analyses the gross labour demand associated with the energy transition in the EU27. The analysis is based on CE Delft’s Direct Labour Opportunities (DLO) model, which has been further developed into a harmonised database of labour intensities, expressed for example as jobs per MW of installed capacity and jobs per million euros of investment. The aim of the study is to explore how this model can be used to produce consistent labour demand estimates at EU level.
The model covers a broad range of decarbonisation technologies, including solar PV, onshore and offshore wind, heat pumps, electricity grids, energy efficiency in buildings, hydrogen electrolysers, biogas, hydropower, and charging infrastructure. The database enables labour demand estimates by technology and at various levels of detail, including Member State, project phase (manufacturing, transport and installation, and operation and maintenance), job type and educational level.
By combining labour intensities with technology deployment scenarios for the period 2026–2030, the study demonstrates how the DLO model can be applied to quantify the direct labour demand of the energy transition. The results support policymakers in analysing the scale and structure of labour demand associated with the energy transition.