Countries around the world are racing to shift to clean energy to the point where it’s become almost something of a competition to see who can achieve net-zero the fastest, who can add the most green jobs, and who will come out on top as a leader in the renewable energy space. To start with, most green jobs are already in Asia and specifically China. But several major world powers are taking action to catch up and become the new standard for green energy development.
So, how does the UK compare?
Green Jobs in the UK
Groups like the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have repeatedly expressed concern about the progress of clean energy development and the introduction of green jobs in the United Kingdom. Although the government has launched programs like Powering Up Britain, there has been public debate about how effective it will ultimately be — especially after an incident where government officials failed to meet with clean energy investors last summer.
However, at the United Nations’ COP28 Climate Change Conference in the UAE last month, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged £1.6 billion towards green development and told reporters that the nation is still on track to meet net-zero target goals. Doubts remain, however.
Green Jobs in North America
The United States’ Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is drumming up competition with its promise of billions of dollars in clean energy investments and thousands of new, high-quality, high-paying jobs. According to BlueGreen Alliance, a non-profit organization that unites labor unions and environmental organizations to solve environmental challenges, the IRA is “already doing BIG THINGS” in the US.
Nearly 100 new clean energy manufacturing facilities or expansions have been announced, leading to hundreds of new jobs in just over a year since the act was introduced.
Green Jobs in the EU
The European Union is also beginning to stand out in the race. According to data from McKinsey & Co., “demand for workers to develop and construct wind and solar assets in the European Union is set to increase by a factor of three to four by 2030.”
For instance, in 2020, it was estimated that the EU would need 290,000 workers in these areas as follows:
- 120,000 blue-collar workers and 80,000 white-collar workers in operations and maintenance
- 80,000 blue-collar workers and 10,000 white-collar workers in development and construction
By 2030, the number of workers needed in operations and maintenance in the EU is expected to increase to 445,000 blue-collar workers and 285,000 white-collar workers. For development and construction, the EU is expected to need 220,000 blue-collar workers and 40,000 white-collar workers.
In comparison, the UK’s own progress seems to be lagging behind despite reassurance from the government, although promising programs have the potential to introduce new jobs — if successfully launched.
Still, jobseekers can use resources like EcoCareers to help find jobs and jumpstart their careers in clean energy and related industries.