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Cleantech Hiring in India Jumps Nearly 57% in Two Years, Delhi/NCR Emerges as Leading Job Hub

India’s clean energy technology sector has rapidly become one of the country’s fastest-growing employment markets, with hiring increasing by around 56.6 percent over the past two years, according to a report released by CIEL HR. The growth has been largely fueled by expanding investments in renewable energy and supportive government policies promoting green technologies.

The report highlights that the surge in projects across the renewable energy ecosystem has significantly increased the demand for skilled professionals. Roles such as design engineers, process engineers, production engineers, and operations and maintenance managers are witnessing strong demand as companies expand renewable energy infrastructure and large-scale project implementation across the country.

Although the sector continues to grow, hiring has slightly moderated in the short term. Workforce expansion currently stands at 13.4 percent year-on-year, suggesting that the industry is gradually shifting from a rapid investment phase to a project execution and operational phase.

From a geographic perspective, recruitment activity remains heavily concentrated in major urban centers. The Delhi NCR region accounts for about 44 percent of all cleantech job openings, making it the country’s largest hiring hub in the sector. Meanwhile, Tier II and Tier III cities are steadily gaining importance, collectively contributing nearly 30 percent of job opportunities, indicating a gradual decentralization of the workforce.

Other significant hiring locations include Mumbai (9%), Bengaluru (6%), and Pune (5%), while the remaining positions are distributed across various other metropolitan regions.

Despite strong employment growth, the report identifies major skill gaps within the sector. While India produces over one million engineering graduates each year, many candidates lack the specialized expertise required in fields such as renewable energy systems, energy storage technologies, and grid integration.

The study also points out a gender imbalance in the industry. Women currently represent only 11 percent of the workforce and about 15 percent of leadership positions, reflecting a continuing diversity challenge within the cleantech sector.

Commenting on the findings, Aditya Narayan Mishra stated that India’s cleantech industry is entering a transformational phase and has the potential to become a major contributor to economic growth. However, he emphasized that skill shortages, talent gaps, and limited female representation could slow progress unless companies invest more in training, leadership development, and inclusive workplace initiatives.

The report also notes that talent shortages are driving higher salary levels. Nearly 48 percent of cleantech roles now offer annual salaries of Rs 10 lakh or more, compared with approximately 40 percent in the IT sector, reflecting the increasing value of specialized expertise in the clean energy industry.