Million-plus green jobs in the offing

More than a million 'green jobs' could be created in the UK as the nation strives to meet its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to a new report.

David Sapsted

12 June 2020

Research by the Local Government Association (LGA) suggests that, with the right incentives from central and local government, the UK could create 698,000 new green jobs within a decade, and a further 488,000 by 2050.The report, 'Local Green Jobs – Accelerating a Sustainable Economic Recovery', says that the proposals "will help to counter the unprecedented job losses due to coronavirus" and boost the national economic recovery following the pandemic.Proposals include the creation of a jobs guarantee programme in the low-carbon sector and for new national skills and employment schemes with funding devolved to local authorities to enable them to work with businesses and education providers in training and retraining programmes.Sir Richard Leese, who chairs the LGA’s City Regions Board, said: “Councils are driving the climate change agenda at a local level, through ambitious projects and targets, which is beginning to influence local economic growth plans and skills programmes.“Demand for green jobs is due to sky-rocket as we move towards a net zero economy and local government, with its local knowledge and expertise, is best placed to ensure the workforce in every region of the country can successfully surf the new wave of employment opportunities.“Localising and devolving skills investment, back to work support and any job guarantee will be critical to ensuring everyone benefits from new local jobs, including these one million new low-carbon jobs.“To help meet national climate change targets and capitalise on the green jobs revolution, councils need to be given long-term funding, devolved powers and easier access to complex government funding pots to help realise the government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050.”The report says that 46 per cent of an estimated 693,628 total low-carbon jobs by 2030 will be in clean electricity generation and in providing low-carbon heat for homes and businesses, such as manufacturing wind turbines, installing solar panels and installing heat pumps.About a fifth of jobs by 2030 are estimated to involve the installation of energy efficiency products, such as insulation, lighting and control systems, while a further 19 per cent of jobs are expected to centre on providing low-carbon services in the financial, legal and IT sectors, and on developing alternative fuels, such as bio-energy and hydrogen.Some 14 per cent of new jobs are expected to be directly involved in manufacturing low-emission vehicles and the associated infrastructure.
"Soaring demand for green jobs will require a diverse range of skills and expertise to roll-out clean technologies," said the LGA. "Emerging skills gaps requiring early intervention are in the heat pump supply chain and professional services."Local areas need to be able match skills supply and demand through effective local targeting by giving councils and combined authorities the ability to work with local education providers and businesses to bridge gaps in NVQ-related skills so that the workforce is equipped to meet emerging demand."The LGA is urging government to improve uncoordinated and limited funding streams by engaging with councils to understand how new funding for skills can be devolved to better meet and respond to local need, to support the creation of new jobs and develop a pipeline of skills at a local level."