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As the global energy landscape continues to evolve, so does the demand for skilled professionals across various energy and power sectors. In 2024, the energy industry is experiencing a significant surge in employment opportunities, driven by technological advancements, sustainability initiatives, and emerging markets.
Diversifying energy supply requires new set of expert skills
One notable trend is the growing demand for renewable energy professionals, particularly in fields such as solar, wind, and CCS (CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE). With governments and businesses increasingly prioritizing clean energy solutions, job openings in renewable energy installation, maintenance, and research are on the rise.
Furthermore, the transition towards a low-carbon economy is creating new job roles in areas like carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), as companies seek to reduce their carbon footprint and comply with emissions regulations. This has led to an increased need for white collar and skilled professionals with expertise in CCUS technologies.
Moreover, the electrification of transportation and the expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure are driving demand for professionals in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. A notable trend is the reskilling of technicians from the traditional vehicle building industry to specialize in batteries and EV charging stations.
Oil and gas expert skills demand remains
In the oil and gas sector, despite fluctuations in commodity prices, there remains a steady demand for skilled specialists, particularly in regions with active exploration and production activities. Roles in production, intervention, and reservoir engineering continue to be in high demand, as companies focus on maximizing efficiency and optimizing existing assets.
Green jobs outlook for the UK
The Office for National Statistics reported that in 2022, employment in green jobs in the UK amounted to approximately 639,400 full-time equivalents (FTEs).
The greater hesitance in reaching a final investment decision (FID) and the escalating costs associated with implementing clean energy projects, on the other hand, was evident in the declined number of vacancies for green energy advertised in 2023 compared to 2022.
Based on the PwC UK Green Jobs Barometer, although job listings for green roles have shown a degree of resilience compared to overall job vacancies, the general decline in the number of green jobs advertised in the past year poses a potential challenge to the UK’s ambition of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The UK has set targets to expand its wind power capacity to 50 GW by 2030. This significant increase in projects requires substantial investment and capacity availability. Specialist skills are essential for the fabrication and construction of offshore and onshore facilities to expand offshore wind capacity. Critical skills include engineering, designing, and installing subsea structures and equipment, conducting geotechnical surveys, and performing subsea inspection, maintenance, and repair operations.
Energy employment road ahead
Meeting the increasing demand for skilled labor will be a primary challenge for the energy sector in the next decade. The skills needed will encompass a mix of STEM professions and vocational and operational expertise.
Retaining and expanding the existing energy supply chain capability remains crucial.