Energy Workforce Shortages Hit 75% of Professionals
▼ Summary
– Three-quarters of global energy professionals report workforce shortages, rising to 90% in regions like the Middle East and North Africa.
– Over one-third of energy professionals plan to retire within the next decade, worsening the workforce gap.
– AI solutions are being adopted to bridge the specialist shortage and reduce energy waste by optimizing building systems.
– Energy reduction is the top strategic priority for 81% of organizations, yet nearly half lack a decarbonization strategy.
– Government funding limitations and budget pressures are growing concerns, cited by 46% and 73% of professionals respectively.
A staggering 75% of energy professionals globally report significant workforce shortages within their industry, a figure that escalates to a critical 90% in areas like the Middle East and North Africa. This alarming data comes from the latest Energy Jobs & Market Trends Survey, which underscores a severe imbalance: the persistent demand for energy efficiency solutions vastly outpaces the availability of skilled personnel needed to implement them.
Experts from Exergio, a firm specializing in AI-driven energy optimization for commercial properties, emphasize that while training new specialists requires years, deploying advanced artificial intelligence offers a viable solution right now. Donatas Karčiauskas, CEO of Exergio, stated, “The industry can’t hire its way out of this gap fast enough, it’s simply impossible.” He further explained that AI represents the only immediate lever to pull for making tangible progress while the next generation of professionals is being educated.
Compounding the problem, the AEE report indicates an accelerating crisis as more than a third of the current workforce intends to retire within the coming decade. In North America specifically, close to a quarter plan to leave their roles within just five years. Despite ongoing global economic and political instability, job openings for energy experts remain steady. Karčiauskas pointed out that this “invisible bottleneck” could be a major factor pushing climate objectives further from reach.
To manage the shortfall, many organizations are increasingly adopting AI-based energy efficiency tools. Karčiauskas highlighted a clear transition within facility management practices. He noted, “Where a manager with a team once operated a single hotel, today one manager often supervises multiple buildings. Digital transformation is unavoidable, but we must accelerate its adoption.” He added that during Exergio’s development, they identified that energy waste frequently stemmed from inefficient management practices rather than obsolete equipment, an area where algorithms can produce immediate savings and enhance sustainability.
The survey also reveals that energy reduction remains the primary strategic goal for 81% of organizations, a priority that has held firm despite broader market challenges. However, nearly 50% of businesses still do not have a formal decarbonization plan. For these companies, Karčiauskas suggests AI could serve as a rapid entry point. He remarked, “A significant portion of building energy waste can be automated via AI tools under human supervision. This allows professionals to concentrate on strategic initiatives instead of daily operational details. It’s surprising how many operations, even in new constructions, are poorly managed, only AI can consistently identify these inefficiencies.”
Industry acceptance of this technology is growing. In the 2025 survey, 51% of professionals rated AI implementation as extremely or very important for improving efficiency. Still, long-standing challenges persist. Government funding constraints are a rising concern for 46% of respondents, and budget pressures are again increasing, cited by 73%, reversing the positive trend observed last year.
Karčiauskas concluded, “AI-powered platforms address two critical issues simultaneously: the specialist shortage and the prohibitive expense of major renovations. By allowing algorithms to optimize HVAC, lighting, and sensor systems, energy waste can be reduced by up to 30%. This approach is significantly more affordable than replacing physical hardware and delivers results immediately. Especially when expert personnel are unavailable, we cannot afford to leave buildings unmanaged.”
(Source: ITWire Australia)
