Britain’s clean energy revolution is set to power a major jobs boom, with over 400,000 new roles expected by 2030 — from plumbers and electricians to welders and engineers — under a
landmark government plan released today.
For the first time, the government has published a national workforce plan dedicated to building the skills needed to deliver its clean energy mission. The number of people employed in the sector is forecast to double to 860,000 by the end of the decade, driven by record investment in renewables, nuclear power, and green infrastructure.
Building the workforce of the future
The plan identifies 31 priority occupations most in demand and outlines steps to ensure workers have the training, pay, and protections they deserve. To meet growing needs, five new Technical Excellence Colleges will be established across the country to train the next generation of clean energy professionals.
The government also aims for two-thirds of young people to be in higher-level learning — including apprenticeships and technical training — by age 25.
Backing workers and communities
The government is investing heavily to ensure these new jobs are good jobs — with fair pay, strong unions, and clear career paths. Energy companies that receive public grants will be required to uphold high employment standards, and new agreements with trade unions will help guarantee fair wages and conditions.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Communities have long been calling out for a new generation of good industrial jobs. The clean energy jobs boom can answer that call - and today we publish a landmark national plan to make it happen.
Our plans will help create an economy in which there is no need to leave your hometown just to find a decent job. Thanks to this government’s commitment to clean energy, a generation of young people in our industrial heartlands can have well-paid secure jobs, from plumbers to electricians and welders.
This is a pro-worker, pro-jobs, pro-union, agenda that will deliver the national renewal our country needs”.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden, said:
“We’re giving workers the skills needed for switch to clean energy, which is good for them, good for industry - and will drive growth across the nation.
Our new jobs plan will unlock real opportunities and ensure everyone has access to the training and support to secure the well-paid jobs that will power our country’s future, as part of our Plan for Change”.
Record investment and opportunities nationwide
Since last summer, the clean energy mission has attracted over £50 billion in private investment, supporting major projects such as:
- Sizewell C nuclear plant, creating 10,000 jobs at peak construction
- Rolls-Royce’s small modular reactor programme, supporting up to 3,000 roles
- The Acorn and Viking carbon capture projects in Scotland and the North East, creating 35,000 jobs — including 1,000 apprenticeships
- 4,000 new roles in carbon capture and storage (CCUS) projects in the North West and Teesside
Entry-level jobs in clean energy already pay, on average, 23% more than similar roles in other sectors. Jobs in wind, nuclear, and power networks offer average salaries of over £50,000, compared with the UK average of £37,000.
Opening doors for all
The plan also introduces initiatives to help a wide range of people access these new opportunities:
- Training for young people: £2.5 million will fund new training pilots in Cheshire, Lincolnshire, and Pembrokeshire.
- Veterans in clean energy: A new partnership with Mission Renewable will help ex-military personnel transition into solar, wind, and nuclear roles.
- Support for ex-offenders and the unemployed: Tailored schemes will help people with relevant trade or engineering skills find work in clean energy.
- Upskilling oil and gas workers: Up to £20 million in joint funding from the UK and Scottish governments will support retraining for thousands of workers moving into renewables and nuclear.
The popular Energy Skills Passport, which helps oil and gas workers transfer their qualifications to offshore wind, will also expand to cover nuclear and electricity grid roles.
Raising standards across the industry
To make sure the green transition benefits workers as well as the planet, the government will:
- Extend employment protections for offshore workers, including the national minimum wage, to those in clean energy sectors.
- Launch a Fair Work Charter between wind developers and trade unions, ensuring companies benefiting from public funds provide fair pay and strong workplace rights.
- Introduce workforce criteria for grants and contracts, testing innovative ways to promote good work and skills development.
Looking ahead
With the clean energy workforce expected to grow fastest in regions like the East of England, where 60,000 people could be employed in the sector by 2030, the government says the plan is about more than jobs — it’s about national renewal.
By investing in people, training, and fairness at work, the UK aims to become not just a clean energy superpower, but a country where the transition to net zero delivers real benefits for everyone. Photo by Kenueone, Wikimedia commons.