Analysis conducted by professional services firm PwC, shows Scotland’s creation of green jobs related to energy transition to be more than 1.5 times the UK average.
The Energy Transition and Jobs – a research paper that builds on PwC’s Green Jobs Barometer – notes that 2.3% of all opportunities advertised in Scotland throughout 2021 were classed as ‘green jobs’, compared with the UK average of 1.6%.
PwC has also found that the majority of jobs forecast to be created in order to build the net zero energy workforce and facilitate the transition to green energy via offshore wind and nuclear, will be based here.
Should Scotland attract the estimated £17 billion investment in renewables required to reach Global Energy Hub status, the transition would lead to a 20% increase in the region’s offshore energy workforce to 54,000 people by 2030.
Jason Higgs, ESG and Energy Transition Leader for PwC Scotland, said:
“While we are in a unique position north of the border, with a strong concentration of green jobs connected to the growth of offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture – and the potential to create a Global Energy Hub in the north east – there is a real need for investment and the creation of a diverse pipeline of talented and skilled individuals to help Scotland capitalise on its position.
“Reaching the position of Global Energy Hub would result in a significant change in the composition of the future workforce in Scotland, with our most recent Green Jobs Barometer findings indicating a 3.5% rise in green job creation in the electricity and gas sector between 2020 and 2021.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“The SNP Government has long since been focussed on ensuring the just transition allows those who currently work in the energy sector to easily transfer their skills into green energy careers.
“This is not only reflected in its Just Transition Strategy but also in the Programme for Government, the Scottish Budget and the recently announced Spending Review.
“With the natural resources Scotland has, we have an opportunity to not only employ new entrants but – crucially – to reskill and upskill those already employed in the fossil energy sector.”
PwC’s latest research includes consultation with key UK energy sector stakeholders across oil & gas, renewables and nuclear power.
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