Election policies in Australia imply different scenarios for renewable jobs

In the lead up to the 2016 Australian federal election, a think tank has calculated what the renewable energy policies of each of the three major parties mean for jobs in the sector.

Renewable energy jobs in Australia have declined for the past three years, contracting from a peak of 19,120 jobs in 2012 to 14,020 in 2015. The implications of the election policies range from just over 35,000 jobs by 2030 to continued stagnation, The Australia Institute said in a research, released on Monday.

The estimates are based on the parties' plans for the Renewable Energy Target (RET), the main policy driving renewable energy in the country.

The RET targets of the key parties are compared in the table below:

The Australia Institute said that under the Greens policy of 90% renewables by 2030, jobs in the sector will more than double to just above 30,000 by 2020. Another 5,000 jobs will be added over the following decade as the rate of construction is expected then to slow.

Under Labor's policies employment will see slow growth after 2020 and will reach slightly more than 20,000 green jobs by 2030.

The think tank projects that under the Coalition alliance's current policy renewable jobs would never reach their 2012 peak. There will be some growth to 2020, but then employment will fall to a bit above 10,000 and will be restricted largely to operational jobs.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!