NEW figures published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) reveal that the estimated number of jobs created in the low carbon and renewable sectors in Scotland contracted over the last year.
Overall, low carbon and renewable energy employment was estimated to stand at 25,700 in 2022: substantially down from the 29,700 estimated jobs in 2021. The jobs total in 2022 stands barely above the 2014 figure of 23,200.
In the offshore wind sector, 3,100 jobs were estimated for Scotland in 2022, down from 3,200 jobs in 2021, while
3,100 jobs were estimated for the onshore wind sector – again down from 3,500 over the same period. The total for the onshore wind sector is shamefully only 400 more than 2014.
The ONS figures are in stark contrast with the Snp-led Scottish Government in 2010 promising 28,000 direct jobs in the offshore wind sector alone by 2020, and a further 20,000 jobs in related industries.
Unite would even question how many of these 6,200 jobs in the onshore and offshore wind sectors are based in construction, engineering, maintenance and manufacturing, rather than officebased roles stemming from the headquarters of major energy firms. Indeed, the ONS confirmed to us that they don’t hold this type of information.
The wider point is vital because it is primarily these two sectors politicians suggest are going to miraculously absorb the 220,000 highly skilled jobs that remain dependent on the oil and gas industry across the UK.
If low carbon and renewable jobs have increased by around only 2,500 over eight years, how are the 93,600 oil and gas workers based in Scotland going to smoothly and effortlessly transition into these sectors any time soon? The truth is that as things stand, they will not. There is no green jobs revolution, it remains a myth perpetuated by politicians. https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/viewpoint/24232499.happened-green-jobs-revolution/?fbclid=IwAR1L0MC7EP-eiLrX9UbjrK6r_mNixgcl_-2XTLIAxVVNeBWs2kd16AlQRGs_aem_AWlesZumJKykj5JD6OCv4V0yXmFg2LNFAdqLOgYzjB0BQ2yX864czwjGz2JUdwTg3F1Z6fnHrmHub8OBe8pEi_AC
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