EU Solar Workforce Expected To Decline By 2030 As Market Matures
While deployment jobs are projected to fall, employment in operations, maintenance, manufacturing, and recycling is expected to grow by 2030.
The European Union solar workforce is projected to decrease by 12% by 2030, falling from 874,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in 2025 to 766,000. According to the EU Solar Jobs Report 2026, this shift reflects the transition from a period of rapid market expansion to a more mature sector where installation growth is slower and productivity gains reduce labor requirements.
The decline is primarily attributed to the deployment segment, which is expected to see a 22% reduction in jobs, dropping from 742,000 FTEs in 2025 to 578,000 by 2030. Despite this contraction, deployment will remain the largest source of solar employment, accounting for approximately 76% of total jobs by the end of the decade.
Other areas of the solar value chain are forecast to expand. Employment in operations and maintenance is expected to rise from 78,000 to 109,000 FTEs as cumulative EU solar capacity grows from 411GW to 739GW. Manufacturing jobs are projected to increase from 37,000 to 49,000, provided announced industrial projects proceed, while roles in decommissioning and recycling are expected to nearly double to 30,000 FTEs.
In 2025, the EU solar sector supported 874,000 FTEs, a 1% increase from the previous year. Germany remained the largest employer with 165,000 FTEs, followed closely by Spain with just under 165,000. Italy, France, and Romania rounded out the top five. The report noted that solar employment grew at twice the rate of the broader EU labor market in 2025.
Looking toward 2030, Germany is expected to maintain its position as the leading employer with 153,000 FTEs. Italy is projected to grow to 105,000, while Spain is forecast to decline to 102,000. The report also identified seven policy priorities for the sector, including addressing skill shortages, improving training access for small and medium-sized enterprises, and integrating solar skills into broader industrial and electrification strategies.
