A sector with momentum: demand for has risen strongly in Germany in recent years. This is mainly due to the expansion of renewable energies: more than 60 per cent of the electricity generated in Germany came from green energy sources in 2024. An analysis conducted by , one of the largest German job portals, indicates how big an impact this has made on the labour market. It finds that in 2024, for example, there were five times as many openings for ‘Project managers in renewable energies’ than five years ago.

This reveals that there are exceptional entry opportunities for . Germany facilitates labour market access for qualified individuals from outside Germany – such as via the or the

There is no envisaged end to this development, because Germany has set itself the target of using renewable energies to cover at least 80 per cent of its gross electricity consumption by 2030. Doing so not only requires the construction of many more wind parks and photovoltaic facilities, but also thousands of kilometres of new power lines. Their planning and construction includes a need for many engineers who have specialised in renewable energies or grid technology. International professionals with corresponding qualifications in these sectors are explicitly welcome.

One of the first tasks is the eco-friendly conversion of heating technology in almost 20 million residential properties in Germany. The European emissions trading scheme will also apply to buildings and the transport sector from 2027, which will cause increases in oil and gas prices. This is yet another reason for households to convert to climate-friendly heating technologies. Energy consultants will therefore be required: the analysis reveals that demand for such specialists has increased 1.5-fold in recent years.

Companies and municipalities need to reduce pollutant emission

Electricity producers and energy-intensive industries are already involved in the European emissions trading scheme as participants. They have to acquire CO2-certificates to compensate for their emission of greenhouse gases. These certificate will in future become scarcer and more expensive. Many companies have for some years now been making efforts to reduce their emissions from burning fossil fuels.

Municipalities and local authorities are obliged to meet the that Germany set itself in 2019: the climate protection law stipulates that CO2-emissions should be net zero by 2045. Vacancies in the relatively new occupation of sustainability management virtually exploded up to 2024: the demand in companies and municipalities for specialists who can develop concepts for reducing CO2-emissions and operating more efficiently rose by a factor of 16.

Vacancies for environmental engineers and recycling specialists

The analysis also shows that other offer good opportunities. Environmental engineers enjoy a broad range of options: their role in companies is to find ways to reduce pollution as well as energy and water consumption, or to develop remediation concepts for polluted soil or water. Creating a circular economy will also require specialists in recycling technology. They develop methods for recovering raw materials from waste, or manage recycling and disposal facilities.

Many traditional study programmes at German higher education institutions also lead to career paths in sustainability. There are ever more programmes on offer that involve sustainability in their name – including Environmental Management, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Informatics, Sustainable Energy Systems and ‘Socio-ecological Forest Management’. Professional development options, not just at higher education institutions but also in corporate settings, offer lots of opportunities to specialise in specific fields of climate and environmental protection.

International applicants can use platforms like to find information regarding prerequisites and entry opportunities.

Practical experience is an important asset

In addition to your qualification, for successful entry it is practical experience that is decisive. As well as work placements involving environmental aspects, professional experience gained through volunteering can also be persuasive to employers. Searching for jobs or work placements should not merely be restricted to the major job portals of the and commercial providers, it is often better to use portals that specialise in green jobs.

More and more positions are also being brokered via career networks like LinkedIn and Xing. These are of course also available via the careers section of corporate websites. Those who can’t find a suitable vacancy via these routes could also try sending a speculative application to their preferred employer. Many international professionals even find their entry via trainee programmes run by German companies or projects set up in cooperation with partner countries, such as the

It is also possible to get to know company employees at the numerous professional and career fairs relating to renewable energies, environmental technologies or environmental services and energy management. The general significance of personal contacts shouldn’t be underestimated: a study conducted by the Institute for Employment Research reckons that this is how a third of all positions in Germany is filled. Anyone interested in a job or work placement should therefore implicitly expand their networks.