Over a million new green jobs could be created by 2050

Council leaders have said that nearly 700,000 direct jobs could be created in England’s low-carbon and renewable energy economy by 2030, rising to more than 1.18 million by 2050.

In a new report, the Local Government Association is urging the government to work with councils to develop post coronavirus economic recovery options, including proposals for a jobs guarantee programme which can provide new opportunities, including in the low-carbon sector. The report also calls for national skills and employment schemes and funding to be devolved to councils and combined authorities so they can work with businesses and education providers to train and retrain young people and older workers so they can benefit from these new local opportunities.

The report, Local green jobs – accelerating a sustainable economic recovery', shows that demand for green jobs will rapidly increase as the nation transitions to a net zero economy and will help to counter the unprecedented job losses due to coronavirus which are likely to increase further when furlough ends from October. This new green jobs bonanza will help the national economic recovery following the pandemic.

The report predicts that: 46 per cent of an estimated 693,628 total low-carbon jobs by 2030 will be in clean electricity generation and providing low-carbon heat for homes and businesses; 21 per cent of jobs by 2030 will be involved in installing energy efficiency products, while a further 19 per cent will be based on providing low-carbon services and producing alternative fuels.

A further 14 per cent of jobs will be directly involved in manufacturing low-emission vehicles and the associated infrastructure.

Furthermore, between 2030 and 2050, the low-carbon workforce in England could increase by a further 488,569, taking the total level of jobs to more than 1.18 million by 2050.

Sir Richard Leese, Chair of the LGA’s City Regions Board, said: “Councils are driving the climate change agenda at a local level, through ambitious projects and targets, which is beginning to influence local economic growth plans and skills programmes. Demand for green jobs is due to sky-rocket as we move towards a net zero economy and local government, with its local knowledge and expertise, is best placed to ensure the workforce in every region of the country can successfully surf the new wave of employment opportunities.

“Localising and devolving skills investment, back to work support and any job guarantee will be critical to ensuring everyone benefits from new local jobs, including these one million new low-carbon jobs. To help meet national climate change targets and capitalise on the green jobs revolution, councils need to be given long-term funding, devolved powers and easier access to complex government funding pots to help realise the government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050.”