UK needs 400,000 green energy jobs to meet net zero target

Hundreds of thousands of workers will be needed to meet the UK’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to new research from National Grid.

The research said the transition to cleaner energies to meet that target would generate 400,000 job opportunities.

National Grid hopes that the drive to limit climate change will unlock new talent and help young people looking into professions where they can make a positive environmental impact.

Nicola Shaw, the executive director of National Grid, said: "As the pathway to net zero becomes clearer, so must our understanding of the jobs and skills we need to succeed.

“Our research shows that to deliver net zero, the energy industry needs to recruit hundreds of thousands of people over the next thirty years – and that really is the tip of the iceberg in terms of the wider impact of net zero across other industries.

"The time is now for the sector to rise to the challenge and overcome the long-standing issues we face in recruiting a diverse workforce with the right skills to deliver on the UK’s ambitions," Shaw continued.

According to the report, over the next decade 117,000 roles will need to be filled, 152,000 between 2031 and 2040 and another 131,000 in the decade to 2050.

Furthermore, a quarter of the green jobs required will need to be based in the north of the country, according to National Grid.