Net Zero Economy Now Supports More Than One Million UK Jobs

The net zero economy in the UK now supports more than one million jobs and generates £105bn (US$141bn) in economic value, according to a report from the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit.

The transition is reshaping how energy is produced, how industries operate and where investment flows across the country.

According to The Race for Net Zero: The UK Net Zero Economy and the Transition to a Competitive Future, the net zero economy contributes approximately £105bn in Gross Value Added and supports 1.1 million full-time equivalent jobs.

The scale of the renewable energy pipeline demonstrates the employment potential ahead. The report identifies a £455bn (US$612bn) renewable energy infrastructure pipeline across 262 GW of capacity, requiring construction activity and skilled workers throughout the UK.

This includes 86 GW of offshore wind capacity, 78 GW of solar generation and 48 GW of battery storage facilities – all requiring significant workforce deployment across planning, construction, operation and maintenance phases.

Higher productivity and wages

The report states that employees in the net zero economy generate around £119,300 (US$160,550) in economic value per worker.

This is 48% above the UK average.

These roles span engineering, renewable energy, manufacturing, consultancy, finance, infrastructure delivery and environmental services.

Wages within the net zero economy are on average 11% higher than the national average, according to the report.

The findings suggest that green jobs could play a larger role in supporting economic prosperity and providing quality employment opportunities across different regions and skill levels.

Developing the workforce needed to deliver the transition requires continued investment into green skills, according to the report.

Closing the green skills gap is said to be necessary for delivering large-scale infrastructure projects and maintaining the UK's competitive position in the global race for clean energy investment.

Green skills and workforce development

"British scientists first distilled the concept of net zero – simply put, you need to stop adding more emissions to the atmosphere (than are sucked back out) otherwise temperatures won't stabilise; you have to stop adding to the problem or you won't stop climate change," says Pete Chalkley, Director at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, in the report.

"This British science, that scientific fact, has spawned a global race to cut emissions. When countries and US States committed to net zero are combined, 84% of global GDP is covered. This year will mark five years since the Glasgow COP climate conference when the UK helped kick-start the global drive to net zero. Now more than 1,200 of the world's largest 2,000 companies have a net zero commitment."

As countries compete globally for clean energy investment, access to skilled workers and technical expertise will become increasingly important, the report states.

The report emphasises the need for execution, supply chain development and the capacity to deliver large-scale infrastructure projects.

Technical expertise is required across renewable energy generation, industrial decarbonisation, energy infrastructure and building technologies.

The net zero economy supports jobs across energy, manufacturing, construction, infrastructure and professional services.

Energy security considerations are driving additional workforce requirements. The transition away from imported fossil fuels towards domestically generated renewable energy creates employment opportunities in installation, maintenance and grid infrastructure development.

This shift has implications for workforce planning across multiple sectors, from offshore wind technicians to grid engineers and energy storage specialists.

"The green transition is a growth engine, not a brake on prosperity," says Adam Elman, Head of Energy and Climate at Google, in the report.

"Companies investing in clean energy and efficiency are seeing lower costs, stronger resilience and access to new markets. The jobs being created aren't just in renewable energy – they're in manufacturing, digital infrastructure, logistics and professional services. This is about building a modern, competitive economy that works for more people and more places."

Construction and infrastructure roles

Construction-related sectors play a role in developing renewable energy projects, transmission networks, battery storage facilities and low-carbon industrial sites.

The report identifies significant employment potential across multiple infrastructure categories, with projects requiring skilled tradespeople, project managers, engineers and support staff throughout their development and operational lifecycles.

"The domestic and international political landscape has shifted significantly since we last partnered with the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit to assess the contributions of the net zero economy," says Louise Hellem, Chief Economist at the Confederation of British Industry, in the report.

"But while the politics may have evolved, the economic story has remained consistent and is now stronger than ever. The UK's net zero economy is now a major part of the national industrial base. It supports more than a million jobs and generates more than £100bn in economic value, with activity embedded across energy, manufacturing, construction and high-value services."

Nuclear energy projects represent a substantial component of the long-term employment landscape. According to the report, Hinkley Point C in Somerset will provide 3.2 GW of low-carbon electricity for up to 60 years.

The project requires thousands of construction workers during its build phase and will support hundreds of permanent operational roles once completed.

Sizewell C in Suffolk is expected to follow a similar trajectory, creating employment opportunities in construction, engineering and long-term plant operations.

Large-scale pumped storage hydroelectric projects such as Glen Earrach and Coire Glas in Scotland require multi-billion-pound investments and will employ significant workforces during construction and throughout their operational lifespans.

The report also notes battery energy storage developments in Yorkshire, North Scotland and Aberdeenshire, alongside hydrogen infrastructure projects that support industrial decarbonisation and create new categories of technical employment.