Close×

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show a significant increase in jobs across the renewable energy sector.

Full-time employment increased 33 per cent in the 2016/17 financial year compared to the previous year.

There are now 15,000 jobs covering large-scale solar energy installations, rooftop solar and wind farms.

The ABS data covers estimates of full-time equivalent (FTE) employment in the renewable energy sector from 2009-10 to 2016-17.

It includes solar rooftop, hot water and large-scale solar projects, as well as wind, biomass, geothermal and wave energy.

Almost three-quarters of the increase in FTE was due to large-scale solar and wind projects, according to the data.

Increases in rooftop solar installations led to 860 additional jobs during the period. In fact, rooftop solar remains the largest renewable energy sector, accounting for 43 per cent of FTE jobs.

Nationally, the eastern states accounted for 78 per cent of FTE employment in the sector.

Queensland is still leading the way when it comes to rooftop solar penetration with 32 per cent, followed by South Australia at 31 per cent and Western Australia at 26 per cent.

The remaining states and territories are all under 20 per cent.