Green Jobs have more than doubled in a year across the North

• The North West is home to 10.5% of all green jobs in the UK
• The North East has seen the biggest increase in green jobs year on year in the North - 125%
• While Yorkshire and the Humber has the lowest proportion of local green jobs in the UK (1.94%) it has climbed to sixth place in the Barometer thanks to a high level of green sentiment in the workplace  

In the second edition of PwC’s Green Jobs Barometer, research shows that green jobs account for a larger share of the job market across the North compared to last year, with an increase of 104%. 

The North West has the most green jobs in the region, with more than one in 10 green job adverts located in the region, representing 2.3% of all local adverts.

The North East boasts the biggest improvement year on year in the region, increasing the number of green jobs available by 125% year on year from 4,227 to 7,594.

Yorkshire and the Humber is the region with the lowest percentage of green jobs (1.94%) however, this is a huge improvement year on year, with an increase of 102% from 2021, which equates to around 8,700 roles. 

Although regionally the UK’s green job creation is rapidly improving, the increase is disproportionately concentrated in London and the South East. These regions collectively represent approximately a third (32.7%) of all new green jobs.

Compared to the North’s best performing area - the North West - which has 31,896 green job advertisements, London and the South East have 110,067 roles on offer. And while population density is a factor, the South’s dominance is reinforced when you consider 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 which are equally vital to the net zero transition.

Adam Waller, ESG lead for the North and Manchester’s Market Senior Partner, said:

“What we’re seeing in the North over the last year is something of a revolution in green jobs - with advertised roles more than doubling. However, the region’s role in the UK net zero ambitions is not without its challenges. 

Despite the green investment we’ve seen in the North with Hynet and Vauxhall’s electric vehicle investment in Ellesmere Port, our latest Green Jobs Barometer indicates that the North-South divide is at play here. 

“Our report also shows that the biggest barrier to green job growth is the skills shortage, which will disproportionately affect the North region as more talent moves to London. The need to secure a transition which is inclusive across the UK is greater than ever.

“Historically, the North has been known as a hub for manufacturing and industrial roles, but the region has evolved, with the financial and tech sectors flourishing here. To continue to attract the right talent to the North, government and businesses have a role to play in creating the right jobs. 

”The growing gap in new green trade jobs means that while the data is moving in the right direction, this cannot just be about job creation, there must be a focus on the kind of jobs that are created, and how these roles will support the UK in meeting its climate targets, while also ensuring that our economy is fit for the future.”

Across the UK, 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, with the number almost trebling in the last year. This equates to 336,000 positions, providing encouragement that the economy is becoming greener.

Carl Sizer, PwC UK’s Head of Regions, commented:

“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.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

About the Green Jobs Barometer

The Green Jobs Barometer is an interactive, accessible, and timely data platform to provide insights that go to the heart of the economy’s preparedness for the transition and what that means for jobs and workplaces across the UK. It is based on analysis across five areas or ‘Pillars’ to measure the relative performance of UK sectors and regions.

Definition of green jobs

We define green jobs as work in roles that seek to either produce / provide environmentally friendly products and services or adapt work processes to become more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources. The definition acknowledges that other jobs that support the green economy indirectly should be considered green. This could include environmental advisors (e.g., in business consulting, law, and accounting) or experts in environmental / sustainability research and education.

PwC’s research showed that the green skills in highest demand were largely sector agnostic, with ‘recycling’, ‘sustainability’ and ‘carbon’ being most sought after. However, low carbon energy generation stood out with skills in renewable energy, infrastructure delivery and nuclear all ranking in the top ten most in-demand skills.

Green jobs also bring a wider economic benefit with PwC’s analysis showing that every green job supports a further 2.2 jobs. This multiplier effect is most profound in London, where 2.7 jobs are supported by each green job. In Scotland, this multiplier is 2.6 – and the average across all regions is 2.2.

Research for the Barometer also found that there is a correlation, albeit small, between the perceived 'greenness' of jobs and quality of jobs. This is more pronounced on a regional basis where areas with more green jobs associate those roles with a greater perception of quality. 

To access the interactive Barometer tool, visit: https://pwc.to/3r7WB6w

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