Global Wind Workforce Outlook 2025-2030
Figure 8: USA C&I and O&M Workforce Demand
The industry is also suffering from the effects of the tariffs that the current presidential regime has been imposing on imports of goods from both allies and adversaries. Following the current policy situation, GWEC Market Intelligence believes that only five projects, totalling 5,784 MW, are likely to be commissioned in the next five years. Those five projects
By January 2024, 13 fixed-bottom offshore wind projects off the East Coast totalling nearly 12 GW were affected, with nine projects, totalling 7.7 GW, having their offtake agreements terminated or being cancelled entirely. The current government’s Executive Order to temporarily withdraw all offshore wind energy leasing within the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) will stop new offshore wind project development off the US coast. To compound matters, the threat of revocation hangs over project permits already awarded under the previous administration, as in the case of the Atlantic Shores South offshore wind project, the Empire 1 offshore wind project (for which the stop-work order was lifted in May), the Revolution Wind (for which the stop-work order was lifted in September) and recently Maryland offshore wind project and New England Wind 1 and 2 wind projects.
351
Onshore Workforce Demand (in thousands)
C&I
O&M 74
80
75
69
70
67
66
67
66
70
63
60
33
31
40
31
46
35
50
38
42
47
41
37
38
36
40
are Vineyard 1, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Empire 1 and Sunrise.
26
29 10
19
25
30
18
41
39
37
20
34
32
29
27
25
23
21
20
19
18
17
10
The turmoil in the offshore wind sector has already had significant labour implications. According to analysis by the Center for American Progress, more than 17,000 jobs in US offshore wind development are linked to projects that have been cancelled, paused, or placed under serious risk. These include more than 12,000 direct jobs and some 5,000 indirect jobs across construction, port infrastructure, manufacturing, and supply chain activities 10 .
0
2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Oshore Workforce Demand (in thousands)
C&I
O&M
10
8
8
6
6
6
6
5
4
4
47
4
4
3 0
4
6
3 1
2
3
3 1
6
2
2
2
1 1
3
3
0
0
2
2
2
2
2
2
0 0 0
23
1
0
0 0 0
10 Center for American Progress. (2025, July 24). The Trump administration and Congress’ attacks on wind power are killing thousands of jobs and risk thousands more.
2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Source: GWEC
26
Chapter 6: Country Commentaries – USA
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