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UK regional view

Transitioning to a green economy in the UK

This page highlights key data, from a range of sources, for different regions across the UK. In the future, as the Green Careers Hub continues to grow, we hope to be able to also support those working in green jobs internationally.

Use the map to find out about the roles, sectors and projects that will impact the need for green jobs in your local area.

Image of a town in the UK with green fields, a church and buildings in the background

Discover the green landscape in your region

 Note: The data in this map was collated by IEMA and The Green Edge, and obtained from the following reports. Note that the data varies from different sources, and so is aiming to give an overview of opportunity and change, rather than the exact figures. All LEP/Skills Advisory Panel documents for 2022 can be accessed here through a government listing of all 36 LEPs or their equivalent. The 2023 link will be added once available. Sector or technology focus areas were also drawn from the Department for Education’s Strategic Development Fund for 2022-23 for the development of Local Skills Improvement Plans. 

 

  1. The number of low-carbon jobs in 2050 is taken from  Local Green Jobs – Accelerating a Sustainable Economic Recovery (2021) produced for the Local Government Association (LGA) by Ecuity.
  2. Placed-Based Climate Action Network dataset Just Transition Jobs Tracker (JTJT), developed by the London School of Economics and University of Leeds.
  3. The Green New Deal draw upon a European methodology (Unlocking the Potential of Zero Carbon, 2018) to derive green infrastructure jobs both short term (two years) and longer term (10 years) and was released in April 2021.
  4. Direct and indirect jobs in order to meet net zero by 2050. Source: National Grid, 2020, page 11 in Building the Net Zero Workforce.
  5. Annual full-time equivalent jobs needed to improve all homes to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating by 2030. Energy Efficiency Infrastructure Group, 2020. Rebuilding for resilience – Energy efficiency’s offer for a net zero compatible stimulus and recovery.
  6. Supporting a Green Recovery: An initial assessment of nature-based jobs and skills. Research Report No 1257. 2020. Nature Scot.
  7. A Green Recovery for Northern Ireland. RSPB 2022 (page 11).
  8. There are two ranking analyses of the English regions and UK nations, the UK Green Growth Opportunity and Challenges Indices (by Oxford Economics for Lloyds Banking Group) and the Green Jobs Barometer (by PricewaterhouseCoopers, December 2022).
  9. An emergency plan on green jobs for young people, Transition Economics, 2021.
  10. Net zero economic hotspots in 2023, according to CBI and Datacity, Mapping the Net Zero Economy, 2023.
  11. Map of UK indicating percentage share of low/ high carbon job postings per region (2022), in Bright Futures, Decarbonising the UK’s energy workforce by City and Guilds.
Information kindly collated by:
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The Green Edge

The Green Edge is a weekly newsletter and podcast that investigates and writes about the skills that people will need for the Green Economy and Net Zero.

Play your part

This is your opportunity to be part of the solution to climate change, biodiversity loss, the plastic waste crisis and other environmental challenges. In response to the global need for action, the UK government has a target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, and to turn around the decline in our natural environment. This can only be achieved with a trained workforce with relevant skills.

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Take a deeper dive into different sectors

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IEMA is the membership body for environment and sustainability professionals