Queensland has the natural resources and public assets to lead the clean energy revolution – and we also have the people. The Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap sets out the path to developing the highly skilled workforce required for Queensland’s renewable energy transition. 

In 2022, the Queensland Government released the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan (QEJP), focused on creating clean, reliable and affordable energy for future generations. But to realise Queensland’s renewable energy targets of 70 per cent renewable energy by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035, a strong and skilled workforce is essential. 

Queensland’s pipeline of renewable energy infrastructure projects is expected to support around 100,000 jobs by 2040, with the majority of those employment opportunities coming in regional areas. 

That figure includes 64,000 direct and indirect jobs across construction, manufacturing and operations, as well as 36,000 jobs in green growth opportunities, including renewable hydrogen, battery manufacturing, resource mining and metal refining. 

The job categories that are expected to be in demand include: 

Electrical trades 

Construction roles 

Technicians 

Engineers 

Science and technology professionals 

Corporate roles 

Education, training and development 

Queensland has a strong base and pipeline of workers to fill these roles, including: 

• Over 34,000 Queenslanders currently working in electricity, gas and waste services 

• Over 275,000 Queenslanders currently working in construction 

• Over 45,400 Queensland students enrolled in energy and/or construction-related vocational training courses 

• Over 19,200 students studying an engineering-related higher education qualification 

But it’s not strictly a numbers game. There’ll be a need for specialised skills and expertise to be developed across the state – for instance, workers will need to be trained to operate and maintain large-scale wind, solar and battery assets, and to install rooftop solar systems and batteries for homes and businesses. 

And the range of emerging technologies in the renewable sector will require specialised roles for battery engineers and chemists, circular energy system designers, re-manufacturing technicians, energy traders and so on.

That’s where the Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap comes in. 

What is the Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap? 

The Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap is the workforce plan to support the QEJP. It provides direction and sets out $30 million in investments to help create a skilled, job-ready workforce for Queensland’s clean energy transformation. 

The Roadmap has been developed in consultation with over 90 stakeholder groups across Queensland, including industry, workers and the community. 

It helps to identify how many jobs will need to be filled, what sort of jobs they are, and where they will be based, to ensure the right pathways, support and targeted training and educational opportunities are available to develop the right skills in the right locations. 

The Roadmap builds on an existing foundation that includes: 

• Over $1.2 billion that the Queensland Government already invests annually in skills and training across the wider economy 

• The $150 million Job Security Guarantee to support energy workers at Queensland’s publicly owned coal-fired power stations and associated mines 

• $90 million under the QEJP to develop two new SuperGrid Training Centre and Transmission Hubs 

• More than $70 million in workforce actions under the Good People. Good Jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032 

• More than $50 million in state-of-the-art hydrogen and renewable energy training facilities across the state

• $100 million for Stanwell to build the Future Energy Innovation and Training Hub 

The Roadmap identifies three key focus areas for supporting the development of the clean energy workforce. 

1. Building the future workforce 

2. Partnering with industry to mobilise existing talent 

3. Preparing regions for growth 

Building the future workforce 

The students of today will play an important role in the clean energy workforce of tomorrow. 

The Roadmap emphasises the importance of fostering interest in careers within the clean energy sector, connecting school students with industry, and providing real-world learning opportunities for students, in order to deliver a pipeline of skilled and capable clean energy workers.

Key actions to build the future workforce will include: 

• Establishing a Renewable Energy Gateway to Industry School Program (GISP), building on the success of similar programs across other industry sectors. The GISP will expand renewable energy training into more than 30 schools for 2000 students across Queensland. 

• Developing online resources for Queensland teachers to deliver clean energy content, with an emphasis on career pathways. 

• Stanwell building the Future Energy Innovation and Training Hub, to provide hands-on training with new and emerging clean energy technologies. 

• Taking a tripartite approach, with industry, unions and government working closely with the higher education sector to identify and address clean energy skills gaps. 

• Energex and Ergon Energy Network increasing their apprentice intake by 10 per cent each year out to 2030, as part of the QEJP. 

• Investing up to $10 million to uplift state-owned training infrastructure. 

• Expanding the VET Emerging Industries initiative to develop renewable energy industry training solutions. 

• Government working with the new Energy Industry Council and Renewable Energy Jobs Advocate, once appointed, to identify further priorities for growing the clean energy workforce. 

Mobilising existing talent 

Queensland’s existing energy workers – along with workers from the resources, manufacturing and construction sectors – have skills and experience that are transferable to clean energy roles, giving the state a competitive edge when it comes to developing a clean energy industry. 

The Queensland Government has also made a world-first commitment to energy workers in the form of the Queensland Energy Workers’ Charter. The Charter, backed up by a $150 million Job Security Guarantee, ensures workers at Queensland’s publicly owned coal-fired power stations and associated mines will have a secure future and clear employment pathways as Queensland’s energy system transforms. 

Key actions laid out in the Roadmap to mobilise existing talent include: 

• Piloting Mobile Regional Energy Jobs Hubs, facilitated by Regional Project Coordinators, within Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (QREZ) regions. These Hubs will provide on-ground support to workers by connecting them with industry and relevant training providers. 

• Implementing a digital energy skills passport app to enable more efficient movement between roles, by clarifying and tracking worker competencies and training. 

• Endorsing the Equal by 30 campaign principles to work towards equal pay, leadership, and opportunities for women in the clean energy sector. 

• Co-funding up to 20 places in the Engineers Australia Global Engineering Talent Pilot Program for clean energy related positions. 

The Queensland Government will continue to leverage its networks to work collaboratively – across all tiers of government, and with industry, unions, education and training providers, peak bodies, and other relevant skills and training representatives – to support existing workers to access clean energy opportunities. 

A Queensland Renewable Jobs Advocate will also be appointed to provide advice to government and champion future secure jobs in the renewable energy sector, and an Energy Industry Council will also be established to provide advice to government on how the energy transformation will impact affected energy workers and their communities. 

Preparing regions for growth 

Queensland’s regional communities have long been the powerhouses of the economy, supporting the state’s strong mining, resource, energy and manufacturing sectors.

The state’s energy transformation will build on these strengths, while maximising the benefits and opportunities for regional communities and workers. 

Queensland’s potential Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) will help to coordinate development of clean energy infrastructure in areas of high renewable potential. These Zones include: 

• The Southern Queensland Renewable Energy Zones, spanning from Maryborough in the north to Stanthorpe in the south, and west to Chinchilla. 

• The Central Queensland Renewable Energy Zones, spanning from Moranbah in the north to Bundaberg in the south, and west past Emerald. 

• The North and Far North Queensland Renewable Energy Zones, spanning from Cairns in the north to Mackay in the south, and west to Hughenden. 

The Roadmap notes that workforce planning and coordination, building supply chain capability, and supporting small businesses in these areas will be key to the success of the state’s clean energy transformation.

The Roadmap’s key actions to prepare regions for growth include: 

• Delivering region-specific future energy resources, including skills supply and demand analysis and jobs opportunity guides aligned with QREZ regions. 

• Appointing a dedicated Renewables Project Officer for Manufacturing Skills Queensland to work with local manufacturing businesses to build workforce capacity and access clean energy supply chain opportunities. 

• Government partnering with Construction Skills Queensland to map construction workforce needs in QREZ regions. 

Future Energy Innovation and Training Hub 

A key initiative that will impact all three of the Roadmap’s focus areas is the $100 million Future Energy Innovation and Training Hub (FEITH) in Rockhampton, to be built by the publicly owned Stanwell Corporation. 

By 2035, when renewable generation and storage has progressed to the point that Queensland is no longer reliant on coal, the state’s coal-fired power stations will be converted into clean energy hubs. 

This will involve installing batteries and/or renewable generation at these sites to take advantage of existing transmission infrastructure, and converting some of the coal-fired generators into synchronous condensers to provide grid stability services. 

The establishment of FEITH will begin the gradual transformation of the coal-fired Stanwell Power Station in Rockhampton into such a hub. 

The size of a shopping centre, FEITH will provide an opportunity to pilot innovative new energy technologies, including wind, solar, hydrogen and battery storage. 

It will also provide a real-life, hands-on training environment for Queensland energy employees to develop the skills needed to work on new energy technologies. 

Stanwell has also partnered with CQUniversity to collaborate on skills, training and technology initiatives and complement the university’s research facilities with access to FEITH. 

The project is expected to be delivered in phases, starting with the establishment of common infrastructure and civil works. Future phases will include a skills academy and demonstration centre, where the community can come to learn about new energy technologies. 

Future Energy Jobs Guide 

The Roadmap is complemented by the Future Energy Jobs Guide, which outlines the job opportunities and career pathways available to existing workers and school students.

The Jobs Guide has been designed to help students considering their future career and workers considering a renewable energy career to explore opportunities in the clean energy sector, and find the education and training pathways that will get them there. 

Developed in partnership with industry, education and training providers and worker representatives, the Jobs Guide reflects current industry needs and future skill demands, and identifies real-world job opportunities.

It includes job profiles, with an overview of future energy roles and relevant qualifications and skills, as well as stories from people currently working in the clean energy industry. The Jobs Guide will be reviewed and developed to keep pace with new opportunities as they emerge.

Similarly, the Queensland Government will review the Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap every two years to ensure it remains fit for purpose. 

Read the Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap to learn more about the state’s renewable energy transformation, and explore the Future Energy Jobs Guide to find your own future-focused career in renewable energy.