Assessing Offshore Wind Employment: A Systematic Meta‐Analysis of Investment and Policy Impacts in China, Denmark, and the US (2010–2023)

This study conducts the first systematic meta‐analysis of offshore wind energy investments and employment impacts in China, Denmark, and the United States from 2010 to 2023. Using 39 observations from 12 peer‐reviewed studies and reports, we apply a random‐effects model and meta‐regression with investments standardized to 2023 USD. Each billion USD invested generates on average 6,126 full‐time equivalent (FTE) jobs (95% CI: [5,361; 6,891]), though efficiency varies: 20,469 jobs/billion in Denmark, 5,585 in China, and 791 in the U.S. The meta‐regression highlights subsidies (coefficient: 980, p = 0.03), development status (1,102, p = 0.02), installed capacity (0.003/MW, p = 0.04), and active ports (100/port, p = 0.05) as key determinants, reducing heterogeneity from 75% to 58%. The per capita GDP × active ports interaction (−0.0000004, p = 0.05) adds negligible explanatory power. Denmark's export‐oriented supply chain explains high efficiency, while China, despite lower intensity, creates the largest aggregate jobs; U.S. outcomes remain constrained by limited capacity and import reliance. Policy implications include subsidies, stronger domestic supply chains, and targeted port infrastructure. Remaining heterogeneity and socio‐environmental trade‐offs underscore the need for further research to maximize offshore wind's dual role in sustainable transition and economic growth.