New research from Learning and Work Institute (L&W), commissioned by NOCN Group, reveals key sectors for decarbonisation lack the workers and skills for the UK to reach Net Zero by 2050. The report identifies rapidly rising demand in occupations in construction, clean energy and transport – but warns training pathways remain underdeveloped and underenrolled, with public awareness of green skills also low.
The authors highlight uneven progress in sectors that will be essential to delivering the UK’s climate commitments. There’s good news in heat pump training, with close to 10,000 annual completions and the number of electric vehicle (EV) technicians matches current demand. But EV charge point installation qualifications have fallen by 61 per cent since their peak in 2021/22, and the report projects a shortfall of over 43,000 EV technicians by 2035 as EVs roll out without intervention to increase training. This could jeopardise the UK Government’s current commitment to ban the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars by 2035.
Training for these roles will only benefit people and employers if there are jobs at the end of the course. Similarly, trying to accelerate changes to get to net zero won’t work without sufficient qualified workers. The report highlights that plans to roll out net zero changes need to have training plans included within them.
Alongside workforce challenges, the report identifies major gaps in public awareness and appetite for green skills. A survey of more than 5,000 UK adults found more than half (52%) said they had not heard of green skills, while over half also said they were not interested in working in construction (57%), transport (54%) or energy (53%). Whilst evidence suggests that apprenticeships will be the most important route for getting people into priority occupations, this was the least popular option for gaining green skills amongst peopled polled, favoured by just one in five people (20%).
Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of Learning and Work Institute, said:
“It’s good news that we’re training the heat pump engineers and EV technicians we currently need for the green transition. But in other areas we’re off track and the pace of change is expected to increase. We need to address this potential mismatch between rising employer demand for green skills and a lack of trained workers across construction, clean energy and transport sectors, The Government and employers need to address this by ensuring plans for training are built into our approach to accelerating clean energy, transport and construction.”
Graham Hasting-Evans, CEO, NOCN Group said:
“The transition to net zero represents a significant opportunity for the UK. It can create new careers, strengthen industries and support economic growth across communities. Realising that opportunity will depend on ensuring people have the right skills, knowledge and confidence to take part. This report provides a strong evidence base for the next stage of that work.”
