This comes after a YouGov poll of 2,000 adults on behalf of the GMB and Prospect unions found that just 20% think that the transition will have a positive impact on jobs in their local area.
Worryingly, only 31% think there will be a positive employment impact anywhere in the UK, despite the net-zero economy growing by 10% last year and generating £83bn in gross value added, which was three times more than the rest of the economy.
The survey also found that 55% believe that the clean energy transition should be focused on jobs and the economy rather than speed, with only 17% preferring a focus on speed.
Prospect and GMB – which represent tens of thousands of energy workers – have now launched a Climate Jobs UK campaign group, which aims to put jobs at the centre of the UK’s debate on decarbonisation.
Mike Clancy, Prospect general secretary, said that the biggest challenge with the energy transition is “no longer climate technology, it is climate jobs”.
“We are going to need tens of thousands of workers to deliver this huge shift in the way we produce and use energy, and if we get it right there is the potential to create good quality, unionised jobs across the country,” he continued.
“But this research shows that people aren’t yet seeing those jobs materialise, and if this continues, then it will undermine support for the transition and drive people towards parties who oppose it.”
According to the research, 8% of the population, equivalent to 5.5 million people, either work in the energy sector or know someone who does.
However, the survey found that the public places energy workers below other groups such as climate campaigners and politicians in a list of who should be involved in decisions over future energy policy.
This is “symptomatic of the way that workers have been marginalised in the national debate so far”, the unions say.
Despite employment fears, separate YouGov polling recently found that 80% of adults are still in favour of expanding the UK’s clean energy infrastructure, including 65% of Reform supporters.
Expanding training and job opportunities in green industries, and greater investment in UK wind turbine manufacturing, were also popular in the polling, with 81% and 70% of adults indicating their support, respectively.
Gary Smith, GMB general secretary, said that how the UK makes the transition to net zero is “hugely important”.
“The voices of those working in the energy sector day in, day out, who have vast experience of dealing with change, need to be front and centre of the process. If not, it's doomed to fail. At the moment, the transition feels like something being done to workers – that can’t continue.
“People need to see real jobs created where they live, and their local economy boosted, or we’re going to see more and more tempted by the siren calls of those who deny the reality of climate change.”
Image credit: Shutterstock
Chris Seekings is the Deputy Editor of ISEP’s Transform magazine, which is published biomonthly for ISEP members. Chris’s role involves writing sustainability-related news, features and interviews, as well as helping to plan and manage the magazine’s other day-to-day activities.
