UK renewables jobs pass 145,000
The North East has seen the biggest jump in renewable energy jobs (2.11% increase), followed by the West Midlands (2.10% increase) and the North West (2.01% increase).
This initial analysis, launched in the Renewable Energy Association’s annual REview Report, found that the number of people now employed in the UK renewable energy sector has exceeded 145,000 for the first time. However, while overall employment continues to rise, the report highlights a widening performance gap in solar PV deployment compared with Europe and global markets. The UK has recorded the slowest growth in solar PV capacity of any country in the sample at just 10% annual increase, compared with 20% in Germany and 23% across the EU as a whole.
Wind energy is leading the way with more than 56,000 jobs, followed by 14,000 in biofuels, 13,000 in biomass and 9,000 in solar technologies. Overall employment numbers in the sector are projected to grow significantly the coming decade, with REA modelling predicting over 265,000 full-time equivalent jobs in renewables by 2035 with continued industry support.
The report also highlights that despite strong domestic job creation, the UK has been overtaken by Poland in solar PV generation growth, underscoring the increasing competitiveness of European markets in key renewable technologies.
The data is released amid a significant surge in oil and gas prices as the Iran War continues.1 With the UK’s energy prices almost always decided by the price of oil and gas these international developments could have a significant knock-on impact on household energy bills, as was seen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Frank Gordon, director of policy at the REA said:
“Renewables and clean tech continue to drive job creation across the UK, with more than 145,000 people now employed in the sector and the clear majority of roles based outside London and the South East. This highlights the vital role renewables play in supporting regional economies and delivering skilled, future-proof careers.
“However, while overall growth is strong, the UK is falling behind on solar PV deployment compared to our European neighbours. If we are to remain competitive, strengthen energy security and bring down costs for consumers, we need to accelerate the pace of solar alongside continued investment across the wider renewable energy mix.”
Nationally, Solar PV was the biggest generator of new employment opportunities, adding the equivalent of around 1,000 new full-time jobs compared with the previous year’s data, closely followed by offshore wind with 800 additional roles created.
There remains more to be done to keep the UK globally competitive. The data found that Britain lags behind its European neighbours in creating job opportunities from renewables. Many of these countries have significantly higher rates of onshore renewables deployment and investment into supply chain production. As a result, Britain’s per capita employment (0.11%) across key sectors – wind, solar PV, anaerobic digestion, and hydro power – is less than half the levels found in countries like Germany (0.26%) and Denmark (0.26%), and significantly below the EU average (0.19%).
