EU Green Economy Employment Reaches 5.8 Million in 2023 as Construction Jobs Grow 11% Annually
Updated
Updated · European Commission · Jun 4
EU Green Economy Employment Reaches 5.8 Million in 2023 as Construction Jobs Grow 11% Annually
1 articles · Updated · European Commission · Jun 4
Summary
5.8 million full-time equivalent jobs were recorded in the EU green economy in 2023, capping average annual employment growth of 6% since 2014.
Construction drove the biggest expansion, rising from 0.7 million to 1.6 million jobs over the period as energy-efficient building, renewable plant construction and refurbishment expanded.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing employed 0.7 million people in 2023 and posted the second-fastest annual growth at 5%, while green manufacturing rose from 0.7 million to 1.0 million jobs.
By environmental purpose, renewable energy jobs nearly doubled from 0.4 million to 0.8 million since 2014, while waste management remained the largest domain in 2023 at 0.9 million jobs, or 16% of the total.
The figures were released as EU Green Week opened in Brussels and ahead of World Environment Day, underscoring the bloc's push to link environmental policy with jobs and competitiveness.
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Overview
The European Union is making strong progress in its green economy transition, highlighted by major events like EU Green Week 2026 and World Environment Day 2026. These initiatives help focus public and policy attention on environmental issues and the growing green job market, supporting the goals of the European Green Deal. Recent Eurostat data shows robust growth in both green employment and economic output, confirming the EU’s momentum. This combination of high-profile events and positive economic trends underscores the EU’s commitment to environmental priorities and a sustainable future.