Asia offshore wind faces specialist skills shortages, NES Group says
XLE•Asia held 58% of global offshore wind capacity at the end of 2025, totaling 53.5 GW, but shortages of specialist workers and grid constraints are increasing project delivery risks.
1. Skills and grid constraints
Asia’s offshore wind industry faces shortages of package managers, marine construction specialists and high-voltage electrical personnel, increasing project delivery risks. Grid capacity is a major constraint, while transmission planning lags offshore wind development. Installation vessel delays can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars daily, raising the financial stakes of contractor coordination and package management.
2. Hiring approaches
Developers can combine permanent staff with contract specialists and recruit transferable oil and gas talent to respond when investment decisions materialize. Asia held 58% of global offshore wind capacity at the end of 2025, totaling 53.5 GW, predominantly in China.
