Net-Zero Skills – Jobs, skills and training for the net-zero energy transition
This briefing paper investigates the evidence for Net-Zero job skills and training requirements in the UK’s energy system. Through an extensive literature review and 10 expert interviews, it analyses how the skills landscape is adapting to support the growth of low-carbon energy sectors, including both supply and end-use. The paper identifies ongoing barriers and opportunities for expanding low-carbon job competencies, culminating in a set of policy recommendations to create clear, inclusive training pathways into low-carbon energy jobs.
Using three sectoral case studies, the paper investigates challenges and opportunities for improving skills and training supply and demand for low-carbon energy careers. The building energy retrofit sector faces a significant shortage of skilled workers, particularly in heat pump installation, energy efficiency measures, retrofit coordination, and digital roles. Despite the potential to create 120,000–230,000 new jobs by 2030, inconsistent policies and funding have hindered private investment in training. The offshore wind sector is forecast to employ over 100,000 workers in 2030, compared to 32,000 in 2022. Offshore wind struggles with skills gaps in electrical, digital, consenting, and marine roles, relying on experienced workers and those from other industries to fill these gaps. The electric vehicles sector could generate at least 80,000 new jobs over the next 10-15 years, contingent on gigafactory development, with key skills needed in charging point installation, vehicle recycling, battery manufacturing, and electrification engineering.
The paper concludes by proposing the establishment of a Net-Zero Skills Commission to co-ordinate a new, national Net-Zero skills strategy involving multiple stakeholders and considering regional, local and sectoral needs. The Commission would review existing occupational standards for Net-Zero jobs, analyse and identify ongoing and emerging skills gaps, and provide expert advice on improving training and education pathways.
Additional recommendations include: the reviewing of financing mechanisms to better support green job training, with additional public funding for FE colleges and SMEs to provide this, increasing the flexibility and geographical distribution of courses, improving public awareness of green job opportunities and career pathways, increasing workforce diversity through inclusive recruitment practices and more detailed labour market monitoring, and providing ready access to high-quality re-skilling programmes for those working in high-carbon industries which will need to be phased down.
Co-Authors
Kaylen Camacho McCluskey recently graduated from a masters in Environmental Technology and holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Warwick.
Dr. Richard Hanna is a Research Associate at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London. He carries out systematic evidence reviews for the UK Energy Research Centre and specialises in topics related to energy technology innovation and low carbon heating policy. He is currently leading a review of the international evidence on net job creation in renewable energy and energy efficiency. His previous review projects have examined: (1) timescales from basic research to commercialisation of energy technologies and consumer products; (2) an international review of best practices in heat decarbonisation, with a focus on heat pump and district heating deployment; and (3) the extent to which energy scenarios and energy systems models represent disruptive / discontinuous change in energy systems.
Previously he was a Research Fellow at the University of Reading from 2013 to 2015. Contributing to the Dynamics of Energy Mobility And Demand (DEMAND) project, he conducted secondary analyses of time-use data to understand how the structure and social distribution of householder practices shape peak electricity demand. Richard completed his PhD at the University of Surrey in 2013, examining the influence of installer businesses on the rate of microgeneration uptake and on installation standards in the UK.
Panellists
Dr Pauline Anderson is Senior Lecturer and Direction of Knowledge Exchange at Strathclyde Business School’s Department for Work, Employment and Society (WEO). Prior to moving into academia, she worked in the public and third sectors for over 15 years, and her research has a strong policy focus.
Her research expertise lies in the broad area of skills, jobs and working life – particularly the future of work, the digital and green transitions, skill ecosystems, job quality, changing work locations, labour market and education/training developments and issues. Pauline’s current research focuses on green jobs, green skills and a ‘just’ transition to net zero, and she serves on the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) Implementation Steering Group.
Damian Whittard, University of the West of England
Dr. Aurélien Saussay, Assistant Professor of Environmental Economics at the London School of Economics
About Energy Futures Lab
Energy Futures Lab is one of seven Global Institutes at Imperial College London. The institute was established to address global energy challenges by identifying and leading new opportunities to serve industry, government and society at large through high quality research, evidence and advocacy for positive change. The institute aims to promote energy innovation and advance systemic solutions for a sustainable energy future by bringing together the science, engineering and policy expertise at Imperial and fostering collaboration with a wide variety of external partners.
Images courtesy of Rampion Offshore Ltd