Powering the future: Critical energy transition minerals and the workforce of tomorrow

Critical energy transition minerals (CETM) are key inputs for rapidly expanding clean-energy technologies and infrastructure, including wind turbines, solar photovoltaic panels, electric vehicles and battery storage systems. As the world shifts from its dependence on fossil fuels to cleaner energy in pursuit of the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, demand for CETM is likely to almost triple by 2030 and quadruple by 2040.

This policy brief examines the workforce and skills implications of the CETM value chain, highlighting significant scope for resource-rich countries to upgrade industrial capacity through international cooperation, technology transfer and skills development.

The brief recommends strengthening CETM-specific skills intelligence to inform curricula, training programmes and qualification and certification frameworks and the CETM skills ecosystem to promote employability, decent work and local value addition through social dialogue.