Green Skills in Numbers: How the UK is Changing

The UK's transition to a net-zero economy is accelerating, creating unprecedented demand for green skills, retrofit expertise, and energy efficiency upgrades. From retrofitting older homes to improving EPC ratings and preventing heat loss, green jobs are reshaping the future of construction, property, and energy sectors. In this article, we explore the latest statistics showing how green skills are changing the UK — and why urgent action is needed to close the growing skills gap.

The Rise of Green Jobs in the UK

• 639,400 full-time equivalent (FTE) green jobs were recorded in the UK in 2022 (ONS, 2024 report based on 2022 data).
• Sectors critical to retrofit and decarbonisation, such as energy-efficient product manufacturing and waste management, now employ more than 250,000 workers combined.
• Demand for green skills is growing faster in the UK than globally — with 13% of job postings requiring green knowledge (LinkedIn Green Skills Report, 2024).

Why Retrofit and EPC Upgrades Are Driving Demand for Green Skills

Much of this surge can be traced directly to government targets around building decarbonisation and energy efficiency improvements:

• The UK must upgrade millions of homes to achieve a minimum EPC rating of C by 2030 — a huge retrofit challenge, especially for the private rental sector.
• Meanwhile, for non-domestic (commercial) rented buildings, the target is even higher — achieving a minimum EPC rating of B by 2030 under the government's MEES regulations (UK Government Guidance).
• It’s estimated that 250,000 extra construction workers will be needed by 2028 to deliver the upgrades necessary for energy efficiency and heat loss prevention (The Guardian, 2024).

This makes retrofit skills, such as understanding insulation, air tightness, ventilation systems, and low-carbon heating (e.g., heat pumps), some of the most critical in today’s green economy.

Regional Growth: A Nationwide Retrofit Opportunity

• Scotland is leading with 5.6% of all job adverts now green-focused — much of this tied to retrofitting Scotland’s older housing stock to improve energy efficiency.
• London shows the largest volume, but strong growth is also seen in Yorkshire and the Humber and the South West — both areas with a high number of pre-1945 properties needing extensive retrofit upgrades.

The Skills Gap Challenge

Despite soaring demand for green jobs, a major skills gap threatens progress:

• Green talent supply in the UK only grew by 5.3% in 2024.
• Without urgent investment in green skills training, 1 in 5 retrofit and energy efficiency jobs could go unfilled by 2030.

This shortage impacts the ability to deliver essential improvements such as:

• Reducing heat loss through better insulation and building fabric upgrades.
• Installing renewable technologies like solar panels and heat pumps.
• Improving building ventilation to balance energy efficiency with healthy indoor environments.

Why Green Skills Matter for Retrofit, EPCs, and the Future

The scale of work needed to achieve the UK's EPC targets and retrofit ambitions is enormous but the rewards are equally significant:

• Retrofitted homes will drastically cut energy bills and carbon emissions.
• Higher EPC ratings will increase property values and rental attractiveness.
• Expanding the retrofit workforce can unlock a greener, fairer economy — and thousands of secure, long-term careers in the green sector.

At Essential Green Skills, we believe energy efficiency is more than a target — it's a pathway to a brighter, more sustainable future.

By staying informed, taking action, and understanding the impact of EPCs and heat loss prevention, we can all play a part in driving the UK’s transition to net zero.
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