Green career fair: Renewable energy offers significant potential for job creation

As businesses around the world realise that sustainable practices are vital to remaining competitive, the Green Career Fair, to be held in partnership with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology and Reed Exhibitions during the 7th World Future Energy Summit from 20-22 January, will be a valuable opportunity for recruiters to highlight job opportunities at their companies and provide career guidance in the advanced energy and sustainability industry. The Green Career Fair aims to provide cost-effective and convenient ways to create social and professional networking opportunities. Besides meeting up with potential employers, professionals will be able to attend workshops on renewable energy career topics and make use of a Career Advice Desk to get tips from HR professionals onsite. The Fair will also include features such as career opportunity booths and interview areas. Dr Behjat Al Yousuf, Dean of Students, Masdar Institute, said: "Platforms such as the Green Career Fair offer emerging clean energy professionals the right channel for their professional development through engaging with industries in the field to discuss future trends in clean energy capacity building. Mandated to focus on human capital building and knowledge development, Masdar Institute contributes to nurturing a talent base that generates IPs and patents, most suitable to the industry. We hope WFES 2014 will serve as the right forum for leading clean energy corporate brands to identify and select the right professional skills to ensure industry growth." Investments in renewable energy are one of the key potential catalysts for job growth in the sector. There is an expected growth in demand for architects, engineers, urban planners and environmental experts specialised in building sustainable cities and communities, smart power grids, wind farms, solar power plants, hydroelectric plants, and energy efficient transportation systems, as governments adopt sustainability in their economic development plans. Building sustainable communities across the MENA region is of vital economic and strategic importance for future sustainability. There is an increasing need for youth to develop careers in renewable energy sectors. The U.S. Green Building Council stated recently that "green construction" employed more than 1 million people from 2000 to 2008. That number is expected to rise to 3.3 million by 2013 and job growth will multiply globally. The China Council of International Co-operation on Environment and Development estimates that by 2016the green job sector could employ 9.5 million people in the country. The U.N. report"Green Jobs: Towards Decent work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World" predicts that the deployment of new energy technologies and investments could see the green job sector employ 20 million additional people by 2030. According to findings of the World Future Energy Summit Insight Report 2013, "Realising the Promise of Solar Industry Development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)", if the region is going to build a solid industrial base in renewables, it is going to have to nurture entrepreneurs that will innovate and create jobs for the growing population of young people. Basim Saleh, Chief Commercial Officer for Eden Energy Group;J Vishwanathan, Director of Microsol; and Mr. Paddy Padmanathan, President and CEO of Acwa Power - three entrepreneurs who have worked in Middle East North Africa - were asked how clean energy would help in creating new jobs and opportunities for fresh graduates. "It is a proven fact that renewables, with particular reference to distributed generation, create the maximum local jobs per megawatt. This was proven even in high-cost countries such as Germany and Japan. The same is relevant to MENA," said Vishwanathan. In addition, a series of supporting and indirect jobs will be created as a result of localised technology in the region. For Padmanathan, "different technologies will create different types of jobs in different numbers, in manufacturing, construction, and operation and maintenance." Naji El Haddad, WFES Show Director, is positive the Green Career Fair will add great value to all those who attend the event and who are interested in providing new jobs and economic opportunities for youthful and fast-growing populations. "The Green Career Fair will be filled with people who work directly or indirectly in renewable energy industries and who acknowledge the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy as central elements of any green economy strategy. This is the perfect setting for companies and candidates to come together and explore ways of working together." "The Green Career Fair is yet another initiative to support the UAE youth and community, by engaging students and young professionals in career advancement opportunities within emerging industries of advanced energy, water and sustainability sectors in the UAE and the region," said El Haddad. The seventh edition of the World Future Energy Summit will be co-located with the second edition of the International Water Summit and the inaugural EcoWASTE exhibition, also hosted by Masdar, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.