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Energy Insight: Employment, skills, workforce

EI Knowledge; 02/11/2017
In this Energy Insight:
  • What are the skills required for energy jobs?
  • How is the energy workforce changing?
  • Available skills resources

The UK is now firmly committed to a target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but achieving it will be a huge challenge. Low-carbon technology must be developed and deployed rapidly, and new energy infrastructure often has long lead times – be it a new wind farm, nuclear power plant or interconnector. This transformation will also require significant changes for the people who bring it about.

Decarbonisation will not happen at the necessary speed and scale without the assembly of an energy workforce that is big enough and skilled enough. This will involve upskilling (refresh or development of skills) and retraining (learning a new vocation or set of skills) for existing workers, alongside the hiring of new recruits. This Insight explores common skills required, current sector trends, and provides an extensive list of skills resources. 

Required skills

Which skills will be most in-demand? With the energy system undergoing significant change in its transition to a low-carbon system, the ability of the workforce to adapt as new skills needs emerge has become vital. Besides an interest in continual learning, skills and knowledge that new entrants to the energy sector are likely to need may include:
  • Engineering and technical skills
  • Knowledge of the energy industry, including whole-system thinking, unique characteristics, issues, and trends in knowledge of energy and environment systems
  • Critical thinking and analytical skills
  • Leadership and project management
  • Data, digital and IT skills
  • An understanding of economics, energy markets and the business context for the various industries within the sector, as well as project finance, budgeting and cost management
  • A knowledge of regulatory policy that affects the energy sector and how power markets are unique in their awareness of supply and demand
The chart below shows which skills UK energy professionals think will be most in demand from employers. You can find out more in the 2021 Energy Barometer report.


Data from Energy Barometer 2021

A changing workforce

Worldwide, the vast majority of energy jobs are in the oil and gas sectors. However, the renewable energy sector has grown steadily over the past decade, and as of 2019 employs around 11.5mn people worldwide (IRENA). 

Source: IRENA jobs database. Total number of jobs is 11.46mn. ‘Bioenergy’ includes liquid biofuels, solid biomass and biogas. ‘Others’ includes geothermal energy, concentrated solar power, heat pumps (ground based), municipal and industrial waste, and wave/tidal energy.

Within renewables, the most jobs are found in solar PV, bioenergy, hydroelectric power and wind power. Many of these roles fall within installation and maintenance, manufacturing, and administration. 

Trade association Energy UK estimates that as of 2019 the UK energy sector employs around 738,000 people, be it directly or ‘through supply chains and related activities’. The UK’s low carbon and renewable energy economy is estimated to have around 200,000 full-time employees, with notable sectors including energy efficient products, low-emission vehicles, bioenergy and wind power.

Since 2010, renewable energy sources have become a major source of electricity generation around the world; in the UK, they have overtaken coal (the main source of electricity generation for the past century). Including wind, solar and nuclear, these energy sources require new practices, skills, training and energy supply management. While gas, nuclear, wind and other clean energy sources are not new (the world’s first civil nuclear programme was been opened at the Windscale nuclear power station in 1956), there have been huge changes in the skills needed and the associated employment opportunities. 

Source: Office for National Statistics (Data from 1996 onwards based on SIC 2007 classifications)

The resources below contain additional information about energy skills in this changing industry.

Skills resources

  • Energy & Utility Skills Council (EUSC) helps employers attract new talent, develop their workforces and assure a high level of competence across their businesses. The EUSC works to ensure that British industries have the skills they need now and in the future.
  • The Energy & Utility Skills Register (EUSR) is an independent skills platform providing recognised standards for the utility sector. It is operated by Energy & Utility Skills, the sector skills body for the gas, power, waste management and water industries. EUSR is designed to support industry employers and add value to the sector.
  • East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) was launched in 2001 as a trade body to represent the energy sector and its supply chain in the East of England. EEEGR’s core programmes and projects are geared towards the sustained development of the energy industry in the East of England. 
  • The Cogent Group states its strategic objectives to be: 
    - To have a pipeline of young people with the capability, drive and ambition to build a globally competitive science based industry in the UK; and
    - To support the development of the existing workforce to acquire the skills needed to adopt new technologies and innovate new products and services.
  • OPITO “Skills for Oil and Gas” supports support the industry to build a sustainable, competent and safe oil and gas workforce and to ensure that quality, innovation and partnership underpin everything that OPITO does. It aims to be a focal point for skills, training and workforce development for the global oil and gas industry
  • RenewableUK is the UK's leading not for profit renewable energy trade association, listing job vacancies in the energy sector and companies involved in the sector.
  • The Energy Industries Council is a not-for-profit organisation with a membership of over 650 UK-registered companies who deliver goods and services to the energy industries worldwide. The EIC delivers high-value market intelligence to members through its online energy project database, and via a global network of staff who work in-the-field to provide qualified regional insight. Along with practical assistance and facilitation services, the EIC's access to information keeps members one step ahead of the competition in a demanding global marketplace.
  • The Energy Industries Council Training runs training programs based on workshops and courses developed by engineers and industry experts the aim of which is to deliver the relevant training to keep both the workforce and the industry up-to-date and relevant. All these courses can be tailored to fit objectives and  most courses can be delivered in-house. 
  • POWERful Women seeks to advance the professional growth and leadership development of women across the UK’s energy sector with a target of 40% of energy company middle management being female by 2030. 
  • The Energy Institute Energy Careers website provides advice and guidance on careers and training in the energy sector.
  • Energy Jobline lists energy jobs worldwide and provides useful background information on the energy sector.
  • Centre for Alternative Technology: courses and training

Further reading




Energy Insight details

Subjects: Skills, education and training, Employment

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