Powering the transition while championing diversity 

March 5 2025: Reimagining Diversity in Clean Energy Careers launches today. 

The rapid expansion of clean energy development is driving demand for hundreds of thousands of workers with diverse skills but right now many of those roles remain unfilled. 

This shortfall presents an opportunity. The Next Economy’s Reimagining Diversity in Clean Energy Careers report shows that by removing barriers to workforce participation for people from marginalised groups and communities, Australia can achieve a faster and fairer energy transition.  

It finds that fostering greater diversity and inclusion in the clean energy workforce can improve outcomes for individuals and communities, all while generating benefits for businesses and regional economies and helping Australia meet its renewable energy targets.  

Fostering greater diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workforce can improve outcomes for individuals and communities, as well as generate benefits for businesses and the economy.

The task is significant, but there are practical actions that can be taken to remove barriers to participation and build a workforce that delivers a faster, fairer and more inclusive transition to net zero.  

The report outlines several opportunity areas to help drive this change:    

  1. Foster a thriving workforce development ecosystem: connecting diverse stakeholders, creating the conditions for collaboration while supporting marginalised individuals and regional economies 
  1. Strengthen inclusive career development pathways: providing equitable access and opportunities for all learners and workers 
  1. Create supportive and inclusive workplaces: ensuring employees from diverse backgrounds feel welcome, valued and supported at work 

The report shows these opportunity areas work best when underpinned by a core principle of putting people at the centre of all workforce development efforts.  

Stakeholders from different sectors across Gladstone have set directions for their future and are working together to manage the net zero transition. Pictured here is a representative of the Queensland Department of State Development and Infrastructure, explaining the history of Gladstone’s industrial transitions to visiting philanthropists and investors. Source: The Next Economy / William Debois.

Developed through research, interviews and workshops and drawing on insights from The Next Economy’s work with regional communities at the frontline of the energy transition, the Reimagining Diversity in Clean Energy Careers report is a resource to support stakeholders take a broader view of what diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace can look like. It highlights actions that leads to workforce development in the clean energy sector that benefit everyone.  

To find out more, read the report here and share it among your networks.  

Download Report


Curious to learn more about the report? We’ll be hosting a briefing session in April 2025. Register your interest to be notified of upcoming dates by filling out this form:

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