Nearly 700,000 direct jobs could be created in England’s low-carbon and renewable energy economy by 2030, rising to more than 1.18 million by 2050, the Local Government Association (LGA) predicts in its new report.

Its new report, Local Green Jobs – accelerating a sustainable economic recovery, shows that demand for green jobs will rapidly increase as the nation transitions to a net-zero economy and will help to counter the unprecedented job losses due to coronavirus which are likely to increase further when furlough ends from October.

The LGA is urging the Government to work with councils to develop post COVID-19 economic recovery options, including proposals for a jobs guarantee programme which can provide new opportunities, including in the low-carbon sector. It is calling for national skills and employment schemes and funding to be devolved to councils and combined authorities so they can work with businesses and education providers to train and retrain young people and older workers so they can benefit from these new local opportunities.
The report predicts that nearly half (46 per cent) of an estimated 693,628 total low-carbon jobs by 2030 will be in clean electricity generation and providing low-carbon heat for homes and businesses, such as manufacturing wind turbines, installing solar panels and installing heat pumps.

Around a fifth (21 per cent) of jobs by 2030 will be involved in installing energy efficiency products, such as insulation, lighting and control systems, while a further 19 per cent will be based on providing low-carbon services (financial, legal and IT) and producing alternative fuels, such as bioenergy and hydrogen. A further 14 per cent of jobs will be directly involved in manufacturing low-emission vehicles and the associated infrastructure.

The report also estimates that between 2030 and 2050, the low-carbon workforce in England could increase by a further 488,569, taking the total level of jobs to more than 1.18 million by 2050.
Soaring demand for green jobs will require a diverse range of skills and expertise to roll-out clean technologies. Emerging skills gaps requiring early intervention are 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.

Cllr Sir Richard Leese, Chair of the LGA’s City Regions Board, said: “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.”

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