The Green Economy in Africa: A job creation engine for the continent

A groundbreaking report released today by Shortlist and FSD Africa, in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group, has revealed that Africa’s green economy could create up to 3.3 million new direct jobs by 2030. This report, titled « Forecasting Green Jobs in Africa, » examines 12 key sub-sectors within the green economy and projects their potential to generate significant employment across the continent, particularly in the renewable energy sector, with solar energy leading the charge.

The study is the first to offer an in-depth forecast of the job creation potential in Africa’s green sectors. It focuses on five major countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, which together could account for over 22% of the green jobs forecast. Key sectors contributing to this growth include renewable energy, e-mobility, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing.

A future built on green jobs

The report underscores the critical role of skilled labor in accelerating Africa’s green industries. With the creation of millions of green jobs, the green economy could play a pivotal role in formalizing African economies, offering stable employment, and contributing to the inclusion of wider populations into formal systems of remuneration, social security, and taxation for the first time.

The study also provides strategic recommendations to foster the growth of green jobs in Africa. These include targeted investments in high-potential sectors, fostering cross-sector collaboration among governments, the private sector, educational institutions, and investors, and developing policies that support green industries. It also emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of labor demand in key value chains to better align Africa’s current skilled labor supply with these emerging opportunities.

While other experts predict that Africa could see as many as 100 million green jobs by 2050, this report takes a more conservative approach, focusing on the near-term job creation potential of just 12 sub-sectors by 2030. This practical analysis aims to guide investments and policy decisions, ensuring that the right skills and workforce are mobilized to meet the demand.

Skilled jobs leading the way

A notable finding of the report is that 60% of the green jobs created in Africa over the next six years will require skilled or white-collar workers. Within this group, 10% of jobs will be classified as « advanced, » requiring university degrees, while 30% will be « specialized » positions requiring vocational training or certification. These job types are expected to offer higher salaries, which will be essential for growing the middle class in countries hosting high-growth green sectors. Furthermore, the report highlights the stability of unskilled jobs created, which will provide opportunities for upward mobility through training and experience.

Mark Napier, CEO of FSD Africa, commented, « While there is a broad cross-sector effort across Africa to spur employment and sustainable development, stakeholders have lacked a shared understanding of where the green jobs will come from. This report offers a methodology to forecast green jobs and provides practical guidance on where we need to invest. »

Key findings and projections

The report also outlines some of the key sectors driving green job creation in Africa. South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria are expected to account for the highest job creation potential, with these countries benefiting from their large populations, high GDPs, and mature industries. Among the sectors, renewable energy is set to generate the most jobs, with solar energy alone predicted to create up to 2 million jobs (70% of the total). Other green sectors, such as agriculture and nature-based solutions, are also expected to contribute significantly to job creation, with up to 700,000 new jobs projected.

Country-specific projections

• South Africa: Between 85,000 and 275,000 new green jobs by 2030, primarily in energy, power production, and agriculture, with solar energy leading job creation.
• Nigeria: Between 60,000 and 240,000 new green jobs, with aquaculture and poultry sectors leading the way.
• Kenya: Between 40,000 and 240,000 new green jobs, driven largely by the solar sector.
• Ethiopia: Between 30,000 and 130,000 new jobs, with hydropower generation as the main contributor.
• Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Between 15,000 and 45,000 new jobs, primarily in energy production and hydropower.

A call for action

Paul Breloff, CEO of Shortlist, added, « This report highlights the importance of human capital and talent as both a driver and a positive outcome of green economic growth. Policymakers, funders, and workforce developers must step up to meet this demand through effective training, apprenticeships, and job matching to realize Africa’s green promise. »

The report calls for increased investments in the green economy and strategic interventions to ensure that Africa’s growing green sectors have the skilled workforce needed to thrive. As the continent accelerates its shift towards a sustainable future, the green economy stands poised to become a key engine of job creation and inclusive growth.

View the report Forecasting Green Jobs in Africa