Government targets 400,000 new green energy jobs in major national skills drive

The government has unveiled a national plan to create 400,000 green energy jobs over the next five years, in what ministers say will be one of the most significant workforce transformations in modern British history.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the program aims to double the number of people working in the low-carbon sector in the UK by 2030, with a major focus on providing tradespeople, school leavers, former service staff and workers leaving fossil fuel industries with the skills needed to support the transition to net zero.

At the core of the initiative is a commitment to prioritize 31 skilled trades, including plumbers, carpenters, electricians and welders. An additional 8,000 to 10,000 plumbers and heating engineers will be needed by 2030, while an additional 4,000 to 8,500 electricians, welders and carpenters will also be needed to meet growing demand from renewable energy projects.

The government pledged that companies awarded public contracts or green energy grants would be expected to create “good, secure jobs” and support the recognition of trade unions and collective bargaining across the sector, including in offshore roles.

“The national plan answers a key question about where the good jobs of the future will come from,” Miliband said, adding that it provides a clear signal to regional mayors and industry and education providers about future employment needs. He said the scheme would help support local industrial strategies and ensure that more educational institutions realign the provision of courses with high-growth green sectors.

Trade unions, including Unite and GMP, which have long pressed for a detailed plan for a “just transition” away from fossil fuels, welcomed the move. Union General Secretary Sharon Graham said: “Safe, well-paid work must be at the heart of any green transition. Union members will welcome the commitment to create 400,000 green jobs with strong collective bargaining rights.”

GMB national officer Charlotte Brompton Childs described the plan as a “jobs-first transition” and praised ministers for listening to workers.

To support the expansion of the green economy, five new colleges of technical excellence will be established to train young people for specialist roles in sectors such as wind energy, hydrogen, nuclear and electrical networks. Pilot programs in Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Pembrokeshire will receive £2.5 million for new training centres, courses and career support.

Additional schemes will focus on relocating experienced oil and gas workers, supported by up to £20 million in joint funding from the UK and Scottish Governments. Veterans will be matched to new roles at solar, wind turbine and nuclear facilities, while dedicated initiatives will support ex-offenders, school leavers and the long-term unemployed.

Government analysis suggests that more than 13,700 unemployed individuals already possess transferable, skilled engineering and business capabilities relevant to clean energy roles. Miliband stressed that salaries in wind, nuclear and electricity grid jobs typically exceed £50,000 – well above the national average of £37,000 – and are often located in coastal and post-industrial areas in need of economic regeneration.

Miliband laid out the plan as a key plank of the government’s industrial strategy and a direct response to opposition parties questioning the value and pace of the transition to net zero. He accused Reform UK of “waging a war on clean energy” and said public support for renewable job creation remains strong.

“This is a huge battle,” he added. “People want jobs, they want lower bills, and they realize that clean energy is part of our economic future. I’m confident we can win that argument.”

The initiative represents one of the government’s clearest attempts to date to link environmental policy to economic opportunity, with Business Matters recognizing that further investment incentives for green manufacturing and infrastructure may follow in the coming months.