At face value, the British government seems just as invested as any in switching to renewable energy and working to achieve climate change goals within a reasonable timeframe. However, more recent activities have fed into earlier concerns about whether it is keeping pace with other world superpowers in the global race to successfully see a green transition through.
Now, more groups are voicing their concern about whether the government can actually manage the high-quality, high-paying jobs in the green industry that were promised with its plan to transition to green. EcoCareers remains hopeful that the government will soon make a substantial show of its commitment to providing good jobs in the green economy on a large scale.
In the meantime, we’re continuing to do our part in helping to connect jobseekers with the opportunities that are available and keeping a close eye on how things are progressing in the clean energy space.
Thousands of Jobs Hang in the Balance
Most recently, the UK’s Trade Union Congress (TUC) called attention to a new steel production deal arranged between the government and an India-based company called Tata Steel.
The deal is a step in the right direction for a green energy transition, promising more sustainable development. But the issue, as the TUC succinctly points out, is that “climate action must take workers and communities with it” — and right now, around 3,000 to 4,000 workers could be laid off because of this deal.
Many of those jobs were also high-paying, which means layoffs will have an even stronger negative impact on the community. The TUC cautioned: “Climate campaigners should beware of welcoming a deal that slashes jobs and undermines a Just Transition without real investment into alternative jobs…
“It doesn't have to be that way. We can future-proof Britain's industries and jobs.”
Too Many Losses Without Enough Gains Spells Trouble
It has always been expected that the global green transition would translate to some job losses in the oil and gas industry, and those that similarly relied on fossil fuels. But stakeholders have largely paid attention to this, and placed emphasis on:
- Providing more new green jobs than the number of oil and gas jobs lost
- Facilitating training and development to help oil and gas workers transition into the green economy and find jobs
The concern for the UK’s government lies in job losses without adequate job gains as is expected — and indeed necessary — for a successful green transition.
Added to this is the fact that the government also recently snubbed a meeting with decision-making green energy stakeholders. That sent a shocking suggestion to the public that perhaps all is not well with the government’s renewable energy investment plan after all.
Nonetheless, employers and jobseekers in the green economy can still rely on resources like those provided by EcoCareers to meet their green job needs.