South Africa’s energy transition is creating demand for electricians, technicians, construction workers and other practical skills, but matching workers to new opportunities remains a major challenge. The African Development Bank and the National Business Initiative (NBI) have outlined progress on a programme designed to connect renewable-energy investment with employment, local enterprise development and training.
From investment commitments to livelihoods
In an announcement dated 26 October 2026, the African Development Bank reported on the Green Livelihoods Summit held in Johannesburg on 13 October. The gathering reviewed the first phase of the Just Energy Transition Skilling for Employment Programme, known as JET SEP. The programme is supported by a $1 million grant through the Bank’s Fund for African Private Sector Assistance. The funding supports programme development and analysis; it should not be confused with the total value of South Africa’s energy investments.
The skills forecasting challenge
A central tool is JET ATLAS, short for Anticipating Talent, Labour and Skills, an interactive dashboard designed to forecast the supply of and demand for skills across South African municipalities. The Bank says its modelling points to solar-related demand through 2030, with wind-related opportunities becoming more prominent later. For the 2030–2040 period, construction labourers account for around 45% of projected demand and technicians around 16%. Forecasts can guide decisions, but actual hiring will depend on investment and project delivery.
Skills development zones
The programme includes feasibility work for Skills Development Zones that would connect training institutions, employers and local economic opportunities. South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training plans launches in Nkangala on 29 October, the Northern Cape on 18 November and the Eastern Cape in March 2027. These are scheduled milestones. They should not be described as fully operating zones before their launches and subsequent implementation.
Why familiar trades matter
Discussion of the green economy sometimes emphasises entirely new occupations. The programme’s research instead highlights established trades such as electrical installation, welding, construction and technical maintenance. The transition may change the equipment and standards workers use, but many roles build on existing skills. Certification, practical experience and links to employers will matter if training is to result in sustained work rather than qualifications without vacancies.
A regional challenge in coal communities
The Bank notes that Mpumalanga hosts around 80% of South Africa’s coal-fired power stations. Communities connected to coal generation and related supply chains may be particularly exposed to shifts in investment. Renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, agro-processing, tourism and hospitality could support diversification, but replacing existing livelihoods requires careful planning. A new solar plant does not necessarily employ the same number of workers, in the same locations or with the same skills as a coal facility.
A target of 100,000 jobs
NBI chief executive Shameela Soobramoney outlined an ambition to enable 100,000 green jobs by 2030. This is a target, not an independently verified count of jobs already created. The programme aims to improve signals from employers, align financing and training, and connect smaller businesses to contracts. Measuring success will require data on actual placements, wages, retention and enterprise participation.
The role of data and business demand
A dashboard can identify where skill shortages may emerge, but data alone cannot train workers or guarantee employment. Employers need to specify occupational requirements and expected project schedules. Colleges and training providers need equipment, instructors and accreditation. Local firms require access to procurement opportunities and working capital. Coordination across these actors is the practical challenge JET SEP is intended to address.
Next milestones
Two studies on inclusive skills systems and lessons from implementation are expected to be presented at COP31. Alongside the planned zone launches, these provide opportunities to assess progress. South Africa’s experience may offer lessons for other African countries investing in renewable energy: the development value of cleaner power will be greater when infrastructure planning is connected to skills, businesses and communities.
How success should be measured
The initiative’s impact will be clearer once training outcomes are reported alongside actual recruitment. Useful measures include the number of learners completing accredited courses, the proportion entering employment, the duration and quality of those jobs, and the share of contracts awarded to local businesses. These measures can help distinguish skills forecasts from genuine economic opportunities.
Municipal-level forecasts may also reveal mismatches between where workers live and where new projects are planned. Training provision, transport, accommodation and local enterprise support may need to be coordinated if communities are to benefit. Women and young people can face additional barriers to technical employment, making accessible training and fair recruitment practices important parts of implementation.
A transition that depends on project delivery
The skills agenda cannot advance independently of investment in generation, networks and related infrastructure. Employers will recruit when projects move from planning into procurement, construction and operation. Aligning training schedules with those milestones can help avoid producing qualifications too early or in occupations for which demand has not materialised. The programme’s value will therefore be tested by its ability to connect public institutions, private investors and training providers over several years.
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