UK pledges 400,000 clean energy jobs by 2030 in £100m skills drive
The UK government has unveiled a major strategy to create 400,000 new jobs in the clean energy sector by 2030, as part of its broader ambition to become a global leader in the green transition.
Working alongside its flagship Clean Power 2030 initiative, the new Clean Energy Jobs Plan sets out a vision for a “strong pipeline” of talent for the country’s clean-energy industries. Since July 2024, private sector investment in UK clean energy has exceeded £50 billion, signalling strong market momentum behind the transition. GOV.UK+1
Key to the plan is more than £100 million in targeted investment in engineering skills, including a dedicated £10 million for supporting engineering T-Levels and higher-education (Levels 4-5) courses in clean energy engineering. GOV.UK+1
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband emphasised the plan’s regional and social ambition, stating:
“Our plans will help create an economy in which there is no need to leave your hometown just to find a decent job. Thanks to this government’s commitment to clean energy, a generation of young people in our industrial heartlands can have well-paid secure jobs, from plumbers to electricians and welders.” GOV.UK+1
What “Clean Energy Jobs” Means
The government defines “clean energy jobs” as roles that directly support the low-carbon transition: from generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, through to heating, energy efficiency, storage, carbon capture and other enabling technologies. GOV.UK
This broad definition means opportunity extends beyond traditional “renewables” to include technologies such as carbon capture, heat pumps, long-duration storage and more. GOV.UK
Supply-Chain and Regional Impact
According to the plan, the clean-energy workforce in the UK currently stands at around 440,000 jobs (2023 estimate) and is projected to nearly double to around 860,000 by 2030 if targets are met. GOV.UK+1
Certain regions are expected to see particularly strong growth: • Wales is projected to see job demand more than double. GOV.UK • Northern Ireland may see job demand more than triple by 2030. GOV.UK
The government is reinforcing the notion that these jobs will be spread “everywhere” — not concentrated only in cities. The aim is to deliver high-quality employment across the UK’s towns, coastal and rural areas. GOV.UK
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