In a new survey conducted by the industry organization Swedish Wind Energy, 26 different companies in the wind power industry answered questions about recruitment needs, skills and future workforce.
The result shows that more than half of the companies are worried or rather worried about the future supply of skills – both for the energy transition in general and, above all, for their own industry.
– In many ways, it confirms the image we already had and strengthens the message that we have to work more on this and ensure that the training places are available and filled, says Ylva Tengblad, sustainability manager at Swedish Wind Energy.
Increased need
Several authority reports indicate that Sweden may more than double its electricity use in the next 25 years and that wind power will have to be an important part of the solution. And there is no shortage of jobs.
Throughout 2021, there were 26 published job advertisements aimed at wind power technicians at the Employment Agency. In 2022, there were a total of 155. And now, just three months into 2023, there are already at least 54 wind energy technician jobs to apply for.
– But I wouldn’t really say that I’m worried. This is such a positive problem, I feel confident that we will solve it, says Ylva Tengblad.
“Searching with light and lantern”
In a report from the Wind Power Centre, it is pointed out that there will be a shortage of around 170 wind power technicians per year in the next few years. And the shortage is already affecting companies in different ways:
– The techniques available today will be overloaded and we will fall behind with the planned work. We are looking for technicians all the time, but it is very difficult, says Björn Carlsson, service team manager at the wind power company EnBW.
See the expert’s list of what measures are needed to attract more people to the wind power industry in the video above.