The global energy sector is heading into a workforce crisis. According to the 2025 Energy Jobs & Market Trends Survey by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), 75% of energy professionals report that their organisations are facing staff shortages. In some regions, such as the Middle East and North Africa, the figure rises to 90%. The shortage comes at a time when demand for energy efficiency solutions remains steady—and in many cases, is increasing.
The survey also highlights a looming demographic shift: more than one-third of energy professionals plan to retire within the next decade. In North America alone, nearly a quarter of the workforce expects to exit within five years. This attrition is expected to exacerbate the shortage, further pressuring governments and businesses to deliver on their energy transition and net-zero targets.
Workforce shortages threaten energy efficiency goals
The shortage of skilled professionals in the energy efficiency sector poses a significant risk to achieving climate commitments. Despite geopolitical uncertainty and economic pressures, demand for energy services remains robust. The AEE report finds that job opportunities remain consistent, even as the labour pool contracts. Without intervention, this imbalance could become an invisible bottleneck preventing meaningful progress towards decarbonisation.
Industry experts warn that the gap cannot be closed quickly through recruitment alone. Training energy engineers, facility managers, and efficiency specialists takes years. In the meantime, digital construction technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) are being positioned as immediate solutions to bridge the skills gap.
AI retrofits emerge as the fastest capacity expansion tool
Donatas Karčiauskas, CEO of AI-based energy optimisation company Exergio, argues that artificial intelligence is the only lever available today to deliver immediate improvements in energy efficiency.
“The industry can’t hire its way out of this gap fast enough—it’s simply impossible,” Karčiauskas explains. “That is why AI is the only lever we can pull today to make an immediate difference while new professionals are trained.”
According to Exergio, AI-based retrofits can reduce energy waste in buildings by up to 30% without replacing physical infrastructure. Algorithms can optimise HVAC systems, lighting, and building management platforms to reduce energy consumption, lower carbon emissions, and free human specialists to focus on strategic tasks rather than operational micromanagement.
Digital construction drives scalable building efficiency
The construction and built environment sectors are already seeing shifts in how facilities are managed. Traditionally, one building manager and a team might operate a single hotel or office block. Today, digital construction technologies and AI platforms enable a single professional to manage multiple buildings simultaneously. This scaling effect is critical given the shortage of skilled labour.
Karčiauskas points out that inefficiency in buildings often stems from poor management practices rather than outdated hardware. AI systems can identify waste patterns invisible to humans, delivering rapid savings and operational improvements.
“Much of what wastes energy in buildings can be automated through AI tools with human oversight,” says Karčiauskas. “It would free professionals to focus on strategic tasks rather than daily micro-management. Even in newly built assets, operations are often run inefficiently—AI can spot and fix these issues immediately.”
Energy efficiency remains a strategic priority—but decarbonisation strategies lag
The AEE survey found that energy reduction remains the top strategic priority for 81% of organisations worldwide, a figure that has remained stable despite wider market pressures. However, almost half of companies still lack a formal decarbonisation strategy. For these organisations, AI-powered energy optimisation may offer a practical and affordable entry point into sustainability initiatives.
In 2025, more than half of surveyed professionals rated AI implementation as “extremely” or “very” important for efficiency, reflecting a growing acceptance of digital technologies in the sector.
Funding pressures compound the challenge
While workforce shortages are the most urgent issue, the survey highlights wider challenges. Government funding limitations were reported by 46% of respondents, and budget pressures are back on the rise, with 73% citing them as a concern. These financial constraints limit the ability of organisations to invest in large-scale retrofits and capital-intensive projects.
Here again, AI is positioned as a cost-effective alternative. Instead of deep renovations, algorithms can deliver efficiency gains using existing infrastructure. By avoiding large capital outlays, organisations can achieve measurable results faster, with less financial risk.
The future of energy jobs and digital construction
The AEE findings underline a critical inflection point for the global energy workforce. With up to one-third of professionals retiring soon and shortages already evident, the sector must embrace scalable, digital-first solutions. AI-powered retrofits and digital construction technologies will not only reduce dependency on scarce human resources but also accelerate progress toward net zero goals.
As Karčiauskas concludes: “With AI-based platforms, we’re solving two issues at once: the shortage of specialists and the high cost of deep renovations. We can’t afford to leave buildings inefficient when algorithms can make them sustainable today.”
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