This week, Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) announces its first contribution to SolarPower Europe’s Solar Jobs Report 2026. The article will explore women’s representation across the Solar+ industries and the factors influencing their attraction, retention and career progression. But to tell that story, WiSEu needs data, and this is where your voice is needed.
The energy transition is creating millions of jobs worldwide. Yet measuring progress only through the number of positions created provides an incomplete picture. As the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) highlights in its Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2025, attention must also be paid to job quality, security, career prospects and whether opportunities are distributed fairly.
We often assume that career opportunities and progression are determined primarily by skills, experience and performance. In practice, however, the environments in which those decisions are made also play an important role.
IRENA’s latest gender research shows that women hold 32% of full-time renewable energy jobs. However, they remain concentrated in administrative positions, while their participation declines to 28% in STEM-related roles and only 19% in senior management and board positions. IRENA identifies cultural and organisational norms, rather than a lack of skills or interest, as significant barriers to women’s participation and advancement.
