A new report from Shortlist and FSD Africa, analyzed by the Boston Consulting Group, predicts that Africa’s green economy could generate up to 3.3 million new direct jobs by 2030. The report, titled “Forecasting Green Jobs in Africa,” focuses on 12 key green sectors and highlights that the majority of these jobs will be in renewable energy, especially solar power.
Helen Robinson from the International Geothermal Association points out the need for a skilled workforce to drive these green industries forward. “Forecasting Green Jobs in Africa” emphasizes the importance of investing in skills development and workforce mobilization to support this growth.
The report covers five countries—Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa—predicting that these nations will together account for 22% of the new jobs. It outlines strategies for nurturing Africa’s green job sector, including targeted investments, cross-sector collaboration, and comprehensive support policies. The study also calls for a closer examination of labor demand in key sectors to address any gaps in the skilled labor supply.
While some forecasts suggest up to 100 million green jobs could be created by 2050, this report offers a more cautious look at the potential for 2030. It highlights that 60% of these new jobs will be skilled or white-collar roles, with 10% being advanced positions requiring university degrees. The remaining 30% will be specialized roles needing vocational training, and 20% will be administrative jobs.
Mark Napier, CEO of FSD Africa, notes, “There is a cross-sector effort across Africa to spur employment and sustainable development, but stakeholders lack a shared, granular understanding of where the green jobs are going to come from.” Paul Breloff, CEO of Shortlist, adds, “This is the first public report that takes seriously the notion that human capital and talent are crucial for both green economic growth and creating millions of new direct jobs.” The report also reveals significant job creation potential in specific countries: South Africa could see between 85,000 to 275,000 new green jobs by 2030, mainly in energy and agriculture. Nigeria is expected to generate 60,000 to 240,000 jobs, with aquaculture and poultry leading. Kenya may add 40,000 to 240,000 jobs, predominantly in solar energy. Ethiopia could create 30,000 to 130,000 jobs, with hydropower being a major sector. The DRC is projected to have 15,000 to 45,000 new green jobs, largely in hydropower.
