Residents to capitalise on green jobs boom thanks to new initiative

We have launched a new partnership to support residents in our sub-region capitalise upon the predicted boom in ‘green’ jobs with 110,000 roles in the green economy projected by 2050.

Called ‘The Green Local London Jobs and Skills Partnership’, it will bring together various organisations including local authorities, further and higher education providers, and employers to develop strategies and practical support for residents now and in the future.

London will see rapid growth in green jobs in the coming years, as the sector becomes increasingly crucial for the capital’s economy. Job growth will be fastest in industrial de-carbonisation, hydrogen and carbon capture, and low carbon transport.

In this part of London, the total number of jobs is projected to rise from 32,000 in 2020 to 110,000 in 2050, representing an above-3-fold increase.

The partnership and a new report outlining the potential of this sector for East London, was launched by Cllr Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, the Mayor of Newham, at a virtual event.  Mayor Fiaz will lead on the Green Local London partnership for the Local London Joint Committee.

She said: “Since becoming Mayor of Newham in 2018, I have put tackling the climate emergency and developing the green economy at the heart of my administration. The climate emergency is a non-negotiable for us. It is an unparalleled challenge for everyone, requiring a complete change in the way we live our lives. It is something that has profound impacts on the economy and labour market.

“With the huge challenges associated with tackling the climate emergency come huge opportunities. Local authorities, the private sector, and the education sector have the potential to unleash these opportunities. But only if we work together. It is not simply a case of accelerating the velocity of the green revolution. We must ensure that our young people have access to the very best training and job opportunities. This isn’t simply about green skills, it’s about a just transition.”

London will see rapid growth in green jobs in the coming years, as the sector becomes increasingly crucial for the capital’s economy.

The four sub-regional partnerships in London have jointly commissioned studies into green jobs in their respective areas. The report by WPI Economics and Institute for Employment Studies will be used by the partnership to influence and shape green employment and skills provision, drive job creation, and maximise the potential shift to a green economy.

In Local London, the study concludes:

• Local London currently has just over 1 in 10 of the capital’s green jobs, totalling 32,130 green jobs in 2020. This represents 4.6% of the sub-region’s total jobs. Within these, the top sectors, also among the most prominent across London as a whole, are Power, and Homes and Buildings. These two sectors account for almost 8 in 10 of the sub region’s green sector jobs.
• In total, the report estimates that the 11 green economy sectors accounted for around £5 billion in 2020/21 in Local London, with Power accounting for just under half of this total.
• The total number of jobs is projected to rise from 32,000 in 2020 to 110,000 in 2050, representing an above-3-fold increase. Within this scenario, three sectors account for almost 8 in 10 (77.6%) of Local London’s total number of green jobs by 2050: Power (41,800), representing 38% of total green jobs; Homes and Buildings (27,400), representing 24.9% of total green jobs, and Low Carbon Transport (16,100), representing 14.6% of total green jobs.
• In comparison with green jobs across the whole of London, green jobs in the Local London sub-region are over-represented among skilled craft occupations, and under-represented among professional occupations.
• Green jobs are currently male-dominated.
• London’s high degree of service sector jobs means that it is somewhat less susceptible to the effects of decarbonisation than other parts of the country. However, the transition to net zero will put certain sectors at greater risk.
• The report identifies that 84,000 of Local London’s 686,000 jobs were in exposed sectors in 2019. This represents 12% of employment, which is a higher proportion than the London-wide average of 7% of employment in these sectors. 58% of these jobs are in the construction sector, and a third of the jobs are land transport.
• Construction and land transport are the largest exposed sectors, respectively accounting for nearly 6 in 10 (58%) and over 3 in 10 (33%) of jobs in Local London’s exposed industries.

Local London has chosen a specific focus on green jobs and skills rather than the wider green agenda and net zero. Growing our green economy will however support our wider ambitions for lower emissions and a greener sub-region.