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APVIA Solar Workforce Outlook In Asia Report

Against the backdrop of the ongoing global energy transition and the continuous expansion of renewable energy installed capacity, the solar industry is gradually entering a stage of development that relies more heavily on specialized talent. As key countries for solar photovoltaic (PV) development in Southeast Asia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have set increasingly higher installed capacity targets year by year. However, shortcomings in the quantity, skill structure, and regional distribution of the workforce have become increasingly apparent.

This report, jointly compiled by the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), the Malaysian Photovoltaic and Sustainable Energy Association (MPSEA), the Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance (PSSEA), and the Vietnam Business Forum – Power & Energy Working Group (PEWG), focuses on the three key markets of Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. It systematically reviews the policy environment, industry progress, education and training systems, and talent supply-demand dynamics in these countries, with a particular focus on talent demand and skill gaps in critical roles such as PV system design, project management, installation and operation and maintenance (O&M), and energy storage technologies. The report finds that while the industry has attracted a cohort of young, highly educated professionals, existing training systems still struggle to meet actual market needs in terms of coverage, practical skills, curriculum update speed, and responsiveness to emerging technologies. Notably, there is a widespread shortage of qualified technical and engineering personnel in areas such as battery energy storage, floating PV, and intelligent O&M, while training resources remain overly concentrated in a few major cities, leading to significant regional disparities in accessibility.

The report concludes with specific recommendations for talent acquisition, development, and retention, emphasizing the need to establish regionally unified certification standards, strengthen industry-education linkages, expand online training channels, and raise public awareness of solar careers. These measures aim to provide practical and actionable references for governments, enterprises, and educational institutions, helping to facilitate a smooth transition for Southeast Asia's solar industry from capacity expansion to talent-driven development.

Click here to download the full text of the Solar Workfoce Outlook in Asia: Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam Regional Report

Click here to download the full text of the Solar Workfoce Outlook in Asia: Malaysia Regional Report

Click here to download the full text of the Solar Workfoce Outlook in Asia: Vietnam Regional Report

Click here to download the full text of the Solar Workfoce Outlook in Asia: Philippines Regional Report