Case Study
The Future Energy & Industrial Workforce Report 2025
Executive Summary
As the global economy accelerates toward low-carbon and technology-powered operating models, industries at the core of energy and infrastructure are undergoing unprecedented workforce transformation. This report captures sentiment from 3,200 senior leaders across Conventional Energy, Renewables, Mining, and Food Production & Manufacturing, revealing how global industrial employers are responding to talent scarcity, digital disruption, and the race for future skills.
Across markets, one theme is clear:
Digital fluency, operational agility, and workforce resilience are now non-negotiable capabilities for industrial organizations.
Study Objectives
- ● This global study was conducted to understand:
- ● Workforce and talent demand trends across industrial sectors
- ● Skills and leadership capabilities required for the future of work
- ● Adoption and readiness for emerging technologies
- ● Investment priorities in automation, AI, IoT, and data
- ● Strategies to address labor shortages and skills gaps
- ● Regional and sector-based differences in workforce planning
Methodology
- Sample Size: 3,200 qualified senior professionals
- Audience: Owners, C-suite executives, senior managers, technical experts
- Sectors Studied:
- ● Conventional Energy (Oil & Gas, utilities, petrochemical)
- ● Renewables (Wind, Solar, Green Hydrogen, Storage)
- ● Mining
- ● Food Production & Manufacturing
- Geographies: 30+ countries across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Latin America
- Recruitment: Professional targeting across senior-level industry decision-makers
Respondent Profile
- Seniority:
- ● 60% senior executives & business leaders
- ● 40% mid & technical management
- Gender Representation:
- ● Conventional Energy: 70% M / 30% F
- ● Renewables: 60% M / 40% F
- ● Food Production: 50% M / 50% F
- ● Mining: 70% M / 30% F
- Company size: Mix of medium & large enterprise representation
- Employment status: 85% full-time decision makers
Key Global Findings
Demand for Skilled Talent is Surging
Across all four sectors, companies report increasing workforce demand, especially in
Operations, Technology Development, and Sales & Service roles.
Organizations are scaling teams to match energy transition, automation, and production expansion.
Skill Gaps Remain One of the Biggest Barriers
The most in-demand future-ready skills include:
- ● Analytical & data-driven decision-making
- ● Leadership & change management capability
- ● Technical & engineering expertise
Sectors with highest capability pressure:
● Renewables & Conventional Energy
● Mining
● Food Production (rising automation)
Technology Adoption Accelerating Across Industries
Top technologies being adopted and prioritized:
Sector | Priority Tech Focus |
Conventional Energy | Big Data, AI, AR/VR, IoT |
Renewables | AI, Big Data, Robotics, IoT |
Mining | AI, Big Data, IoT |
Food Production | Broad adoption across automation, robotics & sensing technologies |
Training & Workforce Readiness Still Developing
Confidence in workforce readiness rises sharply with company size, large organizations lead in digital upskilling, while smaller firms lag due to resource constraints.
Upskilling, Automation & Flexible Talent Models Lead Response to Labor Shortage
Most selected solutions to talent scarcity:
- ● Upskilling & reskilling programs
- ● Retention and development initiatives
- ● Global mobility and relocation
- ● Flexible workforce and outsourcing strategies
- ● Automation to augment core operations
Green Skills & Transition Capabilities Accelerating
Especially across Renewables and Conventional Energy, leaders expect growing demand for:
- ● Renewable operations & maintenance skills
- ● Digital and automation engineering
- ● Green hydrogen and storage expertise
- ● ESG & sustainability roles
Investment Outlook Is Strong
Across major industrial markets including the US, EU, China, India, and GCC:
Most organizations plan to increase investment in workforce and technology over the next five years.
Sector-Specific Highlights
Sector | Key Trend |
Conventional Energy | Accelerating digitalization while reskilling for low-carbon future |
Renewables | Most confident in future workforce readiness, fastest skill ramp-up |
Mining | Strong demand for operational and digital skills, automation surge |
Food Production | Rapid tech adoption to stabilize supply chains and productivity |
Strategic Implications
For Employers
- ● Build continuous learning culture – reskilling must outpace automation
- ● Invest in AI & data literacy across roles
- ● Adopt flexible workforce models to access global talent pools
- ● Prioritize leadership & technical hybrid skill development
For Government & Training Bodies
- ● Support energy transition training pipelines
- ● Align industrial education programs with digital technologies
- ● Expand workforce mobility frameworks
Conclusion
Industrial sectors powering the global economy are entering a new capability era, defined by talent scarcity, fast-moving technology adoption, and the sustainability transition. Organizations that invest early in skills, structure, and technology foundations will lead the next decade of industrial transformation.
The winners of 2025 and beyond will be those who treat talent capability as a strategic asset – not an operational necessity.
About the Study
This global independent study gathered insights from senior professionals across the Energy, Renewables, Mining, and Food Production & Manufacturing sectors to assess talent, technology, and capability readiness for the future industrial economy.
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