India’s cleantech industry, covering products, services, and processes, has witnessed a notable surge in hiring, increasing by 56.6% over the past two years. Despite a slight slowdown recently, there has been a robust 13.4% year-on-year growth in the workforce, indicating a shift towards more execution-focused scaling rather than capital-led expansion, as highlighted in a report by CIEL HR.
The report also revealed a gender disparity in the industry, with women constituting only 11% of the workforce and 15% of leadership positions. Metro areas, particularly Delhi NCR, dominated the hiring landscape, accounting for 44% of total job opportunities.
In contrast, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities emerged as the second-largest hubs for cleantech jobs, with 30% of openings, followed by Mumbai (9%), Bengaluru (6%), Pune (5%), and other metros (6%). The talent pipeline in India, producing over a million engineering graduates annually, is noted to lack alignment with the advanced skills required in renewable energy systems, storage technologies, and grid integration, according to CIEL HR.
Aditya Narayan Mishra, MD and CEO of CIEL HR, emphasized that talent scarcity, skill gaps, and the underrepresentation of women are becoming significant challenges for the sector’s future growth. Furthermore, nearly half of the roles in the industry offer annual salaries exceeding Rs 10 lakh, surpassing the IT sector’s 40%.
The cleantech workforce in India exhibits a median tenure of 2.7 years, indicating a fluid job market with high mobility trends. Professionals are often recruited for specific growth phases like project execution or commercialization, leading to frequent job changes. The report also forecasts substantial growth in India’s clean technology market, with revenues reaching $152,534.8 million by 2030 from $63,431.5 million in 2024, showcasing a 16.1% CAGR between 2025 and 2030.
The government’s ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, including significant contributions from solar and wind energy sources, is driving the sector’s growth trajectory.
