The renewable energy sector is not just lighting up homes and powering industries, it’s also energising the job market. This is particularly evident in the United Kingdom, where the sector is growing four times faster than the overall UK employment market¹.

UK’s Green Job Boom

In the UK, 2.2% of all new jobs are classified as 'green’. The number of green jobs advertised has almost tripled in the last year, equating to 336,000 roles. However, more than one-third of these roles are based in London and the south-east, particularly in professional and scientific roles¹.

Scotland, which dominates the UK’s onshore and offshore wind market, has the highest proportion of green jobs, at 3.3%, up from 1.7% last year. In Wales, where progress is being made in developing solar and tidal power, there was a 150% increase in the number of green jobs advertised¹.

The Global Perspective

Globally, the renewable energy sector is also creating a green jobs boom. Worldwide employment in the sector reached 13.7 million in 2022, an increase of one million since 2021². The biggest growth has been in the solar photovoltaic (PV) sector, especially in Asia, which employs 79% of the global total³.

The Future of Green Jobs

The renewable energy sector is expected to continue its upward trajectory in job creation. In the UK, wider adoption of renewable electricity can lead to up to 150,000 jobs by 2030⁴. Globally, this jobs boom could increase worldwide employment in renewable energy to more than 38 million by 2030³.

The renewable energy sector is not just a beacon of hope for a sustainable future, but also a catalyst for job creation. As countries strive to meet their net-zero ambitions, the green economy needs to be nationwide¹. The renewable energy sector is proving to be a powerhouse for job creation, providing opportunities for economic growth and a sustainable future.

References

1. The Guardian. (2024). ‘UK’s green job boom: Renewable energy sector grows four times faster than overall UK employment market’. Available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/sustainable/news/2020/oct/renewable-energy-can-create-150000-new-uk-jobs-says-new-paper-isr-researchers (Accessed: 9 January 2024).
2. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). (2024). ‘Worldwide employment in renewable energy reached 13.7 million in 2022’. Available at: https://www.irena.org/News/pressreleases/2023/Sep/Renewables-Jobs-Nearly-Doubled-in-Past-Decade-Soared-to-13-Point-7-Million-in-2022 (Accessed: 9 January 2024).
3. World Economic Forum. (2024). ‘Renewable energy sector could increase worldwide employment to more than 38 million by 2030’. Available at: https://www.irena.org/News/pressreleases/2023/Sep/Renewables-Jobs-Nearly-Doubled-in-Past-Decade-Soared-to-13-Point-7-Million-in-2022 (Accessed: 9 January 2024).
4. UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources. (2024). ‘Renewable electricity can lead to up to 150,000 jobs by 2030’. Available at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/renewable-energy-transition-green-jobs/ (Accessed: 9 January 2024).

- PWC 'Green Jobs growing at four times the pace of the overall employment market'. Available at: https://www.pwc.co.uk/press-room/press-releases/green-jobs-growing-at-four-times-the-pace-of-the-overall-employm.html (Accessed: 10 January 2024)