Queensland has reported a significant increase in employment within its energy sector, primarily driven by the ongoing renewables expansion.
According to recent data, the state’s six publicly owned energy businesses Powerlink, Energy Queensland, Stanwell, CleanCo, CS Energy and Queensland Hydro have added over 2750 new jobs between November 2022 and June 2024.
This represents a 28 per cent increase in full-time-equivalent staff, bringing the total workforce from 9792 to 12,562.
Stanwell CEO Michael O’Rourke said the company is at the forefront of the renewable energy transition.
“And as the state transitions, so does the workforce needed to support the clean energy transformation,” he said.
“We’re not only utilising all the skills Stanwell has in our current workforce and supporting our people with career pathways and opportunities under the Job Security Guarantee, but we are recruiting more workers every week so that we can deliver on our massive pipeline of renewable generation and storage projects while continuing to operate our current portfolio safely and reliably.”
The Queensland government anticipates that the clean energy transition could support up to 100,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2040, with a substantial portion of these opportunities expected to be in regional areas.
To facilitate job placement in this expanding sector, the state government has launched an online Energy Jobs Portal in collaboration with the public energy companies.
This platform aims to connect job seekers with opportunities across various roles in the energy industry, including positions for apprentices, engineers, electrical designers, and administrative staff.
Queensland’s Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said the platform is not only about jobs but also about building the portfolio legacy of Queensland’s clean energy transition.
“Following the release of our Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, we committed to finding 2300 additional workers across our six publicly owned energy businesses, and in less than two years we’ve exceeded that commitment,” de Brenni said.
“As Queensland continues its transition towards a clean economy, we need to continue to build a strong, capable workforce that is equipped to deliver this once in a generation shift.
“This portal is not just opening up job opportunities; it’s opening doors to new careers, new skills, and a new chapter in Queensland’s energy story, helping us harness the power of our people as we transition to a clean economy.”
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