Don’t we need coal, gas and oil to create more jobs?
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Don’t we need coal, gas and oil to create more jobs? *
Energy experts agree that renewable energy creates far more jobs than fossil fuels. And fossil fuels are destroying far more jobs than they create, via climate damage to people and economies. Here are some details:
1. Job creation:
In South Africa, the coal industry provides the largest share of fossil fuel jobs. However, on the lowest-cost pathway for providing energy to all South Africans, wind and solar power could create 130,000 new jobs by 2050.
This is significantly more than the 100,000 currently employed in the coal industry. Jobs are expected to decline significantly in the coal industry in the coming decades as global demand for coal decreases. However, in renewable-energy associated industries, 500,000 new jobs, and across the economy more broadly up to 1.6 million new jobs, could be created by 2050.
Experts also agree that jobs in renewable energy are more dignified, less hazardous for workers' health and require higher skills levels than those in the coal industry. In a study by the Centre for Sustainability Transitions, coal workers interviewed said they did not regard their jobs as decent work, and 80% of them did not want their children to have the same jobs due to the dangers.
Globally, clean energy creates more jobs than fossil fuels because it is a more labour-intensive industry. In one example, Uruguay made a near-100% shift to renewable energy in less than a decade, creating 50,000 new jobs – 3% of its workforce.
2. Job destruction:
Coal, oil and gas is already destroying jobs, and every current job in the fossil fuel sector will kill four jobs by 2030.
In 2024, total employment in the fossil fuel sector was 33 million, according to the International Energy Agency (pdf link, p. 12). This is one-quarter of the number of jobs the sector will destroy in just five years, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), which calculates that 3.8% of total working hours worldwide, equivalent to 136 million full-time jobs, may be lost to global warming by 2030.
All of this means that:
Investing in renewable energy is not just better for the planet − it’s better for job creation too.
Still not convinced?
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Today, approximately 100,000 jobs in coal mining and power generation in South Africa (coal mining for Eskom and workers in its coal-fired power stations) could increase to the equivalent of 130,000 new jobs in the solar PV, wind and the residual coal sector by 2050, the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) found. This was for the most ambitious shift to renewables, which was also the cheapest pathway for providing electricity.
In climate-related industries more broadly, a net 500,000 jobs could be created in South Africa between 2022 and 2050, a World Bank report predicts, citing research produced in collaboration with local authorities including National Treasury and SARS. This refers to the 11 industries most affected by the Just Transition, including electricity and minerals.
Under the scenario for the most ambitious shift to renewables, up to 1.6 million jobs could be created across the South African economy by 2050.
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Investments in renewable energy deliver almost three times more jobs per unit of investment than fossil fuels, studies have found.
Already, 13.7 million new direct and indirect jobs have been created globally by the shift to renewables, the International Renewable Energy Agency reports.
Another study predicts that 24,3 million jobs could be created by 2050 globally, in an ambitious shift to renewable energy.
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Identified in 1996, a core barrier to climate action is SA’s Mineral-Energy Complex (MEC), a group of business and political players working together to profit from mining, minerals processing, the electricity and fuel industries, and heavy industry.
Academics say this group is “locking us into low employment and high emissions development.” In other words, SA’s coal industry is maintained and protected by these vested interests, who are not keeping the unemployed top of mind.
Research shows that they use narratives of transformation and development to mask real socioeconomic concerns. They have profited from this structure and resist the move towards renewable energy.
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Different studies may use different metrics to measure jobs within the coal and renewables sector (e.g. coal mining jobs alone, or coal mining jobs and those in coal-fired power generation, or both of these along with downstream jobs in transport and related sectors).
Similarly, job creation figures in the renewable energy industry may include direct jobs, jobs in related industries (“indirect jobs”), and downstream jobs (“induced jobs”) in the broader economy. In evaluating the figures, we need to ensure we’re taking the scope of a particular study into account.
Many jobs in the renewable energy sector are temporary, as large numbers of jobs are required for manufacturing and installation phases of projects, but fewer are needed for operations and maintenance. However, the studies cited above give numbers for ongoing jobs which, even without the many temporary jobs, far outnumber those in the coal sector.
Some studies refer to “Full-Time Equivalent” (FTE) figures for jobs, while others do not even define what a “job” means. It is important to understand which metric is being used when evaluating future scenarios.
The fossil fuel industry includes the coal, oil and gas sectors. In South Africa, coal provides far more jobs than oil and gas, and figures for jobs in the oil and gas industries are not readily available. We have therefore concentrated on coal jobs, as does the research.
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This section of our Climate Hope project focuses on the job-creation potential of the Just Energy Transition. The fossil fuel industry has many drawbacks. Not only does it employ fewer people than renewables, the industry has been central in causing global warming, and has resulted in high costs to human health, personal finances, and the broader economy. We shall explore these issues in subsequent #ClimateHope sections. Meanwhile, here are some snapshots:
Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – account for nearly 90% of global carbon emissions and over 75% of greenhouse gases.
Environmental groups warn that 79 500 people will die prematurely between 2025 and the time that Eskom’s aging coal fleet is decommissioned, due to the pollution it emits.
Studies estimate coal-related health damages at R11–30 billion annually.
Energy experts agree that renewable energy will be less expensive than energy from coal.
Electricity tariffs have risen by over 930% since 2007, far above inflation. Much of this comes from Eskom’s reliance on old coal plants that constantly break down.
Nonetheless, the government props up the fossil fuel industry financially, using your money - your income tax, VAT, and the fuel levies you pay.
South Africa's government spent at least R198 billion subsidising energy in the 2025 financial year, most of this for the fossil fuel industry. The figure had increased five-fold from R39 billion in 2018, stated the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
In the 2025 fiscal year, the government gave at least R198 billion in energy subsidies – a record high - most of this to the fossil fuel industry. This is a five-fold increase from 2018.
Since 2008, the government has spent nearly R496 billion of taxpayers’ money bailing out Eskom.
Every rand spent keeping diesel and coal afloat is a rand not spent on renewables or grid upgrades.
Renewable energy is cheaper to provide, which means it can give cheaper electricity to South Africans than fossil fuels. This, along with the extra jobs it can provide. Upshot? It’s a no-brainer!
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Direct destruction: Climate change directly destroys jobs by intensifying extreme weather events. Hurricanes, floods, and wildfires can wipe out farms, fisheries, and tourism infrastructure in hours, eliminating the livelihoods of everyone from farmers to hotel staff and small business owners.
Slow-onset environmental degradation: for example, rising sea levels make farmland salty, ocean acidification kills fisheries, and desertification turns fertile land barren.
Health impacts erode labour capacity: Extreme heat reduces productivity and poses deadly risks for outdoor workers in construction and agriculture, while the spread of diseases like dengue and malaria leads to more sick days and lost income.
Global economy disruptions: Impacts in one region can cause job losses in another via trade dependencies.
Shrinking global economy: According to research by one of the world’s leading actuarial institutes, by 2070–2090 climate change could be doing so much damage to ecological and human systems, and the links between them, that the global economy could contract by half.
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A major shift has occurred in misinformation about the climate crisis on social media. A study found that the focus of this misinformation has shifted from denying that the climate crisis is real to attacking climate solutions and those who support them. This trend, known as the "New Denial," portrays climate solutions as ineffective, dangerous, or part of hidden agendas.
Our ClimateHope campaign seeks to debunk climate misinformation, promote science-based truths, and empower action through engaging digital content and accessible online resources.
job opportunities in renewables
South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC):
Located at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), SARETEC offers accredited training and short courses in wind and solar technologies, including online offerings through SARETEC online™. They are also a certified Global Wind Organisation (GWO) training facility.
This is the training arm of the South African Energy Efficiency Confederation (SAEE) and provides Endorsed PV GreenCard Training for professional PV installers.
PowerUp Platform:
Launched as part of the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan, this online platform connects industry needs with training institutions to develop new qualifications and address skill gaps.
Offers various courses, including workshops on Renewable Energy Workshop Assistants, covering safety, equipment, and industry practices.
Provides photovoltaic skills training and is involved in initiatives like the Cummins TEC Programme to equip youth with job-ready skills.
The Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority provides resources and information on skills development within the energy sector.
Industry Initiatives:
Look for training programmes developed by companies like Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and wind farms like the one at Loeriesfontein, which have partnered with training providers.