The second edition of PwC’s Green Jobs Barometer has found that the number of green jobs advertised in the UK has almost trebled in the last year, equating to 336,000 positions.
PwC says its Green Jobs Barometer measures the relative performance of UK regions and industries on their progress developing green jobs over time.
The Barometer shows that green jobs are growing around four times the rate of the overall UK employment market, with 2.2% of all new jobs classed as green. However, more than one-third of these roles are now based in London and the South East, with a dominance of professional and scientific roles.
The Green Jobs Barometer, which first launched in November 2021, tracks movements in green job creation, job loss, the carbon intensity of employment and worker sentiment across regions and sectors.
The huge growth in green jobs over the last year illustrates how we are creating a Green Britain.
In the year to June 2022, every region of the UK saw green jobs accounting for a greater share of the job market, and the number of green jobs at least double in absolute terms, PwC says.
The Barometer shows Scotland has the highest proportion of green jobs, at 3.3% (up from 1.7% last year). London saw the second strongest increase in green jobs as a proportion of its job market, and by volume of jobs, London and the South East are pulling away from the rest of the country.
Just 7,594 unique green job ads were for roles in the North East in 2022, PwC says, compared to the significant 110,067 located across London and the South East.
PwC says that while the population density is a factor, the higher amount of green jobs in the south is reinforced when more than one-third of all the green jobs being created today are professional and scientific roles, with an ever-growing gap in new green trade jobs.
The demand for green jobs in Scotland is being driven by the energy sector, PwC says.
Wales’ move up the table is down to a 30% increase in the overall number of jobs advertised, plus a 150% increase in green jobs, behind only London and Scotland, the Barometer shows.
This year’s Barometer shows that many green jobs are in professional and scientific roles.
Conversely, Yorkshire and the Humber and Northern Ireland both fell six places with each having a green jobs proportion of 1.9% – though both have improved from 1.2% last year.
Commenting on the second edition of PwC’s Green Jobs Barometer, Carl Sizer, PwC UK’s Head of Regions, said: “The huge growth in green jobs over the last year illustrates how we are creating a Green Britain.
“One year on, our Green Jobs Barometer has shone a light on the regions and sectors where these jobs are being created. While Wales and Scotland are among the top performers, it’s striking that one in five new green roles are based in the Capital.
“If growth continues on this trajectory, the compounding effect means the green economy will increase London’s dominance over other cities and regions. If we want to meet our Net Zero ambitions while driving growth, then the green economy needs to be nationwide.
“This year’s Barometer shows that many green jobs are in professional and scientific roles, while there is an ever-growing gap in new green trades jobs which are equally vital to net zero plans.”
