Government ‘falling behind on green jobs’

The government is failing to help create new jobs, the TUC says, after studying figures from the ONS which show 28,000 (12%) fewer jobs in zero-carbon energy and energy efficient industries than in 2014, despite those industries’ exports increasing by more than a third.

The union organisation points to ONS figures showing that: jobs in energy efficient products manufacturing are down by 32,000, or more than a quarter, since 2014; jobs in onshore wind energy are down by 2,300, or nearly one third; and jobs in solar energy are down by 4,300, or over 40%.

The sector with the largest growth in jobs has been low emission vehicles and infrastructure, where the number of jobs has more than doubled (19,100 jobs in 2020, compared to 9,300 in 2014).

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “There are so many opportunities for the UK on the path to net zero. We can be pioneers in zero-carbon steel, electric vehicles, and floating offshore wind turbines. And we can create 300,000 jobs in retrofits, so that everyone has a greener, warmer home with affordable bills.

“But we will miss out on these opportunities if ministers do not step up public investment and action. And we could see existing jobs lost to other countries who modernise their industry faster.”

https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/government-not-doing-enough-create-new-green-jobs-tuc-warns