GETI 2025: The workforce trends reshaping the energy industry

The energy industry is experiencing major shifts, driven by changing skill demands, workforce mobility trends, and growing investment across renewable, transitional, and traditional sectors. The ninth annual Global Energy Talent Index (GETI) Report, the most comprehensive analysis of energy workforce trends, introduces a five-year trend analysis. This offers an in-depth look at how professionals and employers alike are adapting.

Key findings:

• In 2025, salary growth continues across all energy sectors, with 48% of renewable professionals, 50% of traditional energy workers, and 54% of those in transitional roles reporting pay increases. Reluctance to relocate is reshaping workforce mobility, pushing employers to rethink their talent strategies and seek expertise from a wider pool. 
  
  
• Competition for skilled professionals is intensifying, and companies must focus on retention, career development, and long-term workforce planning.
  This blog explores the key insights from GETI 2025, highlighting the trends that will define the energy workforce in the coming months. 

Salaries and career development insights 

The 2025 GETI report highlights a strong upward trend in salaries across the energy sector, driven by competition for talent and growing investment in renewables and transitional energy. Despite signs of salary growth stabilising in some areas, optimism about future pay increases remains high, and professionals are increasingly considering career moves to align with emerging opportunities.

Renewables salaries continue to climb

As the demand for skilled professionals rises, wages are expected to continue to grow, creating more opportunities in the renewable sector. Seventy-three per cent of professionals expect salary increases in the next year, signalling continued wage growth.

Traditional energy salaries rebound, but career moves are on the rise

In traditional energy, salary increases have rebounded after the challenges of 2021 and 2022, with 50% of professionals reporting a pay rise in 2025. However, for the first time since 2021, the proportion of professionals seeing raises over 5% has decreased, signalling a potential slowdown in salary growth. Despite this, a positive outlook persists, with 71% of professionals expecting further pay increases next year, up from 49% in 2021.

As the demand for expertise in traditional energy grows, professionals are more open to changing roles. A significant 86% of professionals would consider moving to a new position, with 62% open to staying within the traditional energy sector. Interestingly, 71% are also considering a move to renewables, a notable increase from 56% in 2023, indicating a shift in priorities within the industry.

Transitional energy salaries are rising, but career development remains a key focus

Salaries in transitional energy are also on the rise. Despite the strong salary growth in transitional energy, professionals are prioritising long-term career prospects. As a trillion-dollar project pipeline fuels demand for specialised skills, professionals are prioritising career development opportunities, training, and growth within their roles. 

For companies to attract and retain talent in transitional energy, competitive salaries aren’t enough - they must also offer clear career progression and stability.

Global mobility trends

The report reveals a marked change in workforce mobility across the energy sector. Professionals are increasingly prioritising local career opportunities, even as more employers offer cross-regional transfers. This declining willingness to relocate is reshaping the talent landscape across renewable, transitional, and traditional energy sectors.

Renewable and transitional professionals are moving less, focusing on local opportunities 

This shift away from relocation is particularly noticeable within the renewable energy sector. Despite an increase in employer-offered cross-regional transfers, only 73% of renewable energy professionals are open to relocating in 2025—down 12% from 2021. This trend reflects a broader preference for local opportunities, especially in regions where renewable projects are on the rise. With talent increasingly in demand locally, many professionals are choosing to stay closer to home, driving a shift in career decisions and a greater emphasis on work-life balance.

When it comes to transitional energy, there has also been a rise in employers offering cross-regional transfers, with 58% of companies providing these opportunities in 2025  - up from 48% in 2022. However, despite this rise, fewer professionals are willing to relocate. Only 74% of transitional energy professionals would consider moving abroad for work, down 13% since 2021. 

As with renewables, this trend highlights the growing importance of local career opportunities. While employers in transitional energy continue seeking global talent, professionals are increasingly prioritising stability and work-life balance over relocation.

Global mobility trends are shifting for traditional energy 

Traditional energy professionals are still largely open to relocating, with 80% willing to move abroad for work in 2025. However, this figure has declined from 89% in 2021, signalling a shift in career priorities. 

Europe remains the top destination for relocation, although its appeal has lessened, dropping from a peak of 30% in 2022 to 26% in 2025. 

The Middle East remains a strong second choice, while interest in North America has remained stable. This suggests that while traditional energy professionals are still willing to move, they are becoming more selective in choosing relocation destinations.

Job satisfaction, talent retention and workforce trends are evolving

This year’s GETI report highlights shifting workforce priorities across the energy sector, with job satisfaction closely tied to flexibility, career impact, and employer resilience. However, concerns around career progression and increasing job opportunities outside the industry are shaping talent retention strategies as companies adapt to a changing landscape.

Flexibility and purpose are key drivers of job satisfaction

In the renewables sector, 65% of professionals report being satisfied in their roles, largely due to the ability to work flexibly (46%) and the societal impact of their work (43%). This aligns with broader trends in the energy transition, as professionals in transitional energy increasingly prioritise making an impact.

Eighty-eight per cent say it is important that their career contributes to climate change solutions or the energy transition. Nearly two-thirds consider this very important, underscoring the need for employers to align their values with employee expectations.

Career progression remains a concern for retention 

While job satisfaction is strong, career progression remains a challenge. In the renewables sector, 58% of professionals cite a lack of clearly defined career paths as a concern. Similarly, in transitional and traditional energy, workforce planning will be crucial in talent retention as professionals weigh their long-term career prospects. Without clear development opportunities, companies risk losing top talent to sectors offering greater career visibility.

Employer confidence and industry optimism are on the rise

Optimism in employer resilience has grown, particularly in traditional energy, where 71% of professionals express confidence in their company’s ability to navigate future challenges. Advances in engineering techniques and technology (37%) and the transition to clean energy (37%) are key industry opportunities, reflecting a broader shift toward innovation and adaptation. 

Meanwhile, companies are taking more active steps to support the energy transition, with two-thirds implementing measures to reduce operational emissions or diversify their energy portfolios - an 11% increase since 2023.

Energy professionals are more in demand than ever

The growing demand for energy expertise extends beyond the sector itself. In 2025, professionals received an average of 6.08 external job offers - up from 5.71 in 2023. 

Notably, 37% of these approaches came from outside the energy industry, with sectors like technology and infrastructure actively seeking energy professionals. 

As competition for talent intensifies, energy employers must refine their retention strategies, offering not just competitive salaries but also clear career progression, purpose-driven work, and flexibility.

Adapting to a changing energy workforce: key takeaways from GETI 2025

Salary growth, career mobility, and job satisfaction are reshaping the energy workforce. While pay increases remain important, professionals are focusing more on career development, flexibility, and purpose-driven work. With fewer people willing to relocate and competition for talent increasing, employers must offer clear career paths, strong retention strategies, and a supportive work environment.

For the full insights and data, download the GETI 2025 report.