PH Needs 350,000 More Workers For Renewable Energy Projects By 2030

The Philippines will need approximately 350,000 additional workers to service all pending renewable energy (RE) projects in the pipeline by 2030, according to the United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO).

The Terra Solar project—led by SP New Energy Corporation (SPNEC), a unit of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) group—covers 3,500 hectares across four towns in Nueva Ecija and one in Bulacan. I Photo: Meralco PowerGen Corporation

Despite having the largest RE development pipeline in the region, the country’s current RE workforce is estimated at only 120,000—far short of the projected requirement, said ILO Philippines head Khalid Hassan.

He noted that Southeast Asia as a whole is expected to generate as many as six million RE jobs by 2050.

Hassan highlighted that the Philippines has already secured major RE investment commitments, including a partnership with UAE government-owned Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co.) for 10 gigawatts of solar, wind, and energy storage capacity by 2040.

He also cited Terra Solar’s ongoing 3,500-megawatt RE project, which is poised to become the world’s largest solar power facility by 2026.

The location of Masdar’s $15 billion project has yet to be disclosed by either the UAE firm or the Philippine government.

However, reports indicate that it will complement infrastructure development initiatives under the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), which links Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas into a major economic hub for commerce, industry, and logistics.

Meanwhile, the Terra Solar project—led by SP New Energy Corporation (SPNEC), a unit of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) group—covers 3,500 hectares across four towns in Nueva Ecija and one in Bulacan.

The project has an investment value of ₱200 billion and will include five million solar panels.

Integrating 3,500 megawatts of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity with 4,500 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery energy storage systems (BESS), the project is set to commence commercial operations in early 2026, with a second phase slated for completion in 2027.

However, Hassan emphasized that skills gaps are hampering the growth of RE projects in the Philippines, with companies reporting a 75% shortage of skilled workers.

He pointed out that training systems in the country are outdated, fragmented, and not aligned with market needs. “Investments are being delayed or compromised due to a lack of ready, qualified workers,” he warned.

Safety is also a pressing concern, particularly for young workers involved in the construction and installation of wind and solar projects, he said.

Hassan further noted that current technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems in the Philippines are largely government-driven, with minimal input from employers in the design and delivery of training programs.

He added that many trainers lack exposure to modern technology, there are no formal apprenticeship systems, and there is an absence of mechanisms to forecast skills demand.

“This disconnect is slowing returns on investment and affecting project quality,” he stressed.

To address these challenges, the ILO is currently working with the Philippine government to establish a system that offers quality apprenticeships in the RE sector.

The program aims to define industry standards and core competencies, establish certified apprenticeships tied to real jobs, promote occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, and provide a platform for employers to influence government policy reform.

The initiative also seeks to shape policy in areas such as skills financing, labor mobility, and tax and regulatory incentives, with the broader goal of positioning the Philippines as a "green jobs leader."

According to Hassan, the platform targets training 10,000 workers—half of them women—by 2029. It also aims to certify 2,400 apprentices with an 80% job placement rate within six months, and establish 25 pilot training systems across the solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and geothermal industries.

By 2029, the program also aims to certify at least 240 supervisors and 180 vocational instructors for the RE sector, he concluded.