Around the world, governments and businesses have committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, or earlier.
As well as helping to alleviate the effects of global heating, making the transition to a low-carbon economy could generate trillions of dollars in annual business value by creating a more sustainable economy and 395m jobs by 2030, according to estimates from the World Economic Forum.
That will only be possible, however, if countries have enough workers with the right green skills, including engineers who can build and maintain turbines and other equipment for renewable energy, accountants who can measure and report a company’s carbon footprint, and technologists who can develop clean technologies.
Such workers are hard to find. In the UK, for example, PwC, an accounting firm and consultancy, has estimated that there is a shortage of about 200,000 workers who have skills in green energy − renewable energy such as solar and wind power.
One way to plug the skills gap is to encourage young people to go into green careers, including through apprenticeships.
Sustainable careers
According to recent research by WorldSkills UK – a partnership between education, industry and UK governments that works to raise standards in technical education and apprenticeships, champions future skills and empowers young people to succeed – 55% of young people say they are inspired to pursue a green career. Of those, more than 70% said that was because they wanted to tackle the climate crisis, with 62% saying they were enthusiastic about sustainability.
However, young people who are interested in a green career are often hindered by a lack of advice and information on training, the research also found.
Employers are also struggling to fill their green pipeline.
“Of the businesses that we polled, 59% said that they had green skills gaps and an even higher proportion said that they struggle to recruit people with the right green skills,” says Ben Blackledge, deputy chief executive at WorldSkills UK.
Apprentices can help fill some of the skills gaps. They can be trained for new types of jobs − such as installing offshore wind turbines − or they can work in long-established sectors where roles have been updated. These include heating engineers and electricians, who work with and support low-carbon technology, including heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points.
Building a sustainable future
Demand for green skills is expected to be particularly strong in construction, manufacturing, and clean energy, the WorldSkills UK research found.
But technical skills won’t be enough to hit environmental targets. Communication and problem-solving skills will also be needed, says Blackledge.
Such diverse skills are tested and celebrated every two years at a “skills Olympics” – an international competition for technical skills as diverse as digital construction, cooking and welding – which is organised by the global WorldSkills network.
Mona Nawaz, an expert in digital construction at construction company Balfour Beatty, took part in the international competition last year and was the only female in the final, which was held in Bordeaux, France.
She says the experience was a positive one and that training with WorldSkills UK took her out of her comfort zone, gave her renewed confidence and helped further her skills and expertise. She adds: “At the end of the day there will always be someone better than yourself, but you need to beat yourself.”
Encouraging more people to develop digital skills in construction, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D printing, may also help the industry become greener.
For example, AI may help construction companies better measure and predict their carbon emissions, while 3D printing can cut transport costs of materials and require smaller factories – both of which can reduce emissions.
For its part, WorldSkills UK is increasing online information about green careers for young people in construction and other industries. It is adding a new competition in renewable energy to its competition-based training programmes. Car competitions will include electric vehicle maintenance.
The WorldSkills UK’s competitions not only improve young people’s technical skills, they also broaden their minds, according to Philipp Mueller, programme manager at Autodesk, a software firm.
The company is working with WorldSkills UK to provide technology that helps the construction industry become greener.
Employers also benefit, he adds. “[It’s a] fantastic mechanism for employers to engage their apprentices and build their excellence.”
Renewable energy dividend
This year, WorldSkills UK will launch a renewable energy competition, supported by NOCN, enabling young people to develop world-class skills in the installation and maintenance of wind turbines and solar panels. It also hopes to ensure UK participation at the inaugural global finals in renewable energy at the next international WorldSkills event in Lyon, France, 2024.
Blackledge says: “Given the overwhelming appetite for young people to work in roles that help tackle climate change, as uncovered by our research, and the huge economic prize on offer, it’s incumbent on all of us to make it easier to have a green career.”
Attracting young people to work in the green economy could therefore have several far-reaching benefits. As well as boosting the UK’s sustainable renewable energy production and aid the journey towards a more environmentally sustainable economy, it could also plug skills gaps in a growing part of the economy, as well as provide a rewarding and varied career path for young people.
Register for the WorldSkills UK International Skills Summit: International Skills Summit 4: Skills for the future – WorldSkills UK
