UK Clean Energy Jobs Plan

The UK and Scottish governments have unveiled a plan to train and recruit workers for the booming clean energy sector, with a pledge to double green jobs by 2030. The plan aims to boost the sector over the next five years, with a focus on giving oil and gas workers new roles.

Background

The oil and gas industry is expected to decline, with at least 40,000 of the current 115,000 jobs disappearing by the early 2030s. However, many of these roles are expected to be relatively easily transferable into green industries, requiring little more than a few months of additional training.

The Plan

The UK and Scottish governments have pledged up to £18 million of new money to help oil and gas workers transition into green jobs. The plan includes funding for careers advice, training, and "skills passports" to enable workers to make the move without having to repeat their qualifications. The plan also identifies 31 priority occupations that are in high demand, such as plumbers, electricians, and welders, and sets a goal of converting five colleges into new "technical excellence colleges" to train workers.

Reaction

Unions have welcomed the plan, but pointed out that skills and training do not equate to new jobs. They are calling for additional money and a revitalized domestic supply chain to build green technology. Professor Paul de Leeuw, from the Energy Transition Institute, said the plan is "really new and different" but added that "you can’t train people for jobs that don’t exist."

Regional Benefits

The boom in clean energy jobs is expected to benefit reform areas on the UK’s east coast, given the proximity to offshore wind farms and carbon capture and storage fields in the North Sea. Government modeling predicts an additional 35,000 direct jobs in Scotland, 55,000 in the East of England, and 50,000 in the North West.

Next Steps

To keep unions happy, the government must also keep its promise to strengthen the rights of those working offshore in the green energy sector. A current loophole provides protections such as the minimum wage for oil and gas workers in UK coastal seas, but not for clean energy workers. The government must address this issue to ensure a successful transition to a green economy.