A report issued by the International Energy Agency revealed that the energy sector has witnessed remarkable growth in technology-related jobs globally, emphasizing the key role that digital technologies play in accelerating the transition toward safer and more sustainable energy systems.

The agency warned that energy utilities will face strong competition for qualified workers to fill the skills gap in this sector in the coming years. This requires stronger recruitment and training strategies.

The report indicated that there are stages of digital transformation in the energy sector, as the first group includes countries such as Singapore, Portugal, and Slovakia, and employers generally employ workers with technological skills in all sectors, including energy facilities.

According to the report, the second group includes countries such as Australia and New Zealand. Energy utilities’ employment of workers with digital skills is higher than the average technology employment across all sectors.

The report explained that the third group includes countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Colombia. The share of job openings requiring digital skills in energy utilities is higher than the average for the economy as a whole.

The fourth group includes the majority of European Union member states, along with some Latin American and North African countries. Demand for technology jobs is generally declining, including in the energy sector.

There are several challenges facing countries, including, for example, a skills shortage, as energy utilities face difficulty in attracting workers with the digital skills needed to lead digital transformation, and competition, as energy utilities compete with other sectors to attract workers with digital skills.

There are several solutions that must be proposed to address the issue, including, for example, investment in education and training. Governments and energy utilities must invest in education and training programs to develop the digital skills of the workforce, enhance the attractiveness of jobs by offering competitive salaries and benefits, and create a positive work environment to attract workers with digital skills, in addition to taking advantage of technology such as artificial intelligence in order to facilitate the recruitment and training process.