The South East continues to lead the way in terms of the number of green jobs advertised among the UK’s nations and regions outside of London, ranking fifth in the latest iteration of PwC’s Green Jobs Barometer.
The South East has a significant number of green job adverts, totalling 33,911 in 2024. However, the region saw little to no change this year, with a slight decrease of just six job adverts compared to 33,917 in 2023.
Along with the North West, the South East was one of the two regions to experience stagnant or declining green job numbers this year.
Despite this minor decline, the South East remains the second-highest region in terms of the total number of green job adverts, following London, which leads with over 58,500 adverts.
When combined with London’s green job adverts, roles advertised across both regions accounted for around a third (34%) of all new green job advert postings in the UK.
First launched in November 2021, the Green Jobs Barometer focuses on movements in green job creation, job loss, carbon intensity of employment and worker sentiment across regions and sectors.
The Barometer also finds that the share of green job adverts as a proportion of all adverts increased from 2.2% in 2023 to 2.9% in 2024, reflecting a 0.7 percentage point increase. This indicates a growing proportion of green jobs within the overall job market in the region.
The South East saw the largest increase in the number of green job adverts in the water supply (13.7%) and electricity (7%). The region also saw a modest growth in green jobs advertised across several other sectors.
The region did, however, see roles advertised in accommodation and food service decrease by 0.9%. It’s the only sector which saw a decrease in green jobs ads in all regions across the UK.
The Barometer also finds that green jobs are having a greater ripple effect on the wider job market. The green employment multiplier in the South East rose to 2.8 in 2024, up from 2.5 in 2023, which is higher than this year’s UK rate of 2.7.
The region’s multiplier increase means that for every 10 new green jobs created, an additional 28 jobs are generated in the wider economy.
Julian Gray, PwC’s South East regional market leader, said: “The South East plays an important role in the UK’s green transition, acting as a hub for innovation and leadership in sustainability initiatives.
“It is encouraging to see the region maintaining its position as the leading green job creator outside London, reflecting its commitment to advancing renewable energy, low-carbon technologies, and sustainable infrastructure.
“Significant strides in decarbonisation, particularly in transport and energy systems, underscore the South East’s dedication to driving a greener future.
“However, this year’s report highlights an interesting trend. While the South East retained its standing as second only to London in green job advertisements, it experienced restrained growth, contrasting with notable increases seen across most other UK regions. This signals a need to capitalise on opportunities for further growth and innovation.
“To sustain its leadership in the green transition, the South East must continue to analyse market dynamics, foster collaboration between businesses and policymakers and equip its workforce with the necessary skills and expertise.
“By doing so, the region can ensure it remains at the forefront of the net zero journey while maximising the economic and environmental benefits of green growth.”
Across the UK, there has been a significant surge in green job adverts across the UK, reflecting a growing demand for green skills despite a 22.5% contraction in the overall job market.
The share of green job adverts as a proportion of total job adverts increased to 3.3% in 2024 – up from 2.3% in 2023 – adding nearly 23,000 new green job adverts.
The Barometer also indicates that residents across all regions believe the shift to a net zero economy will create more jobs than it displaces, with young people (aged 25-34) particularly optimistic about future job prospects.
Carl Sizer, chief markets officer and management board member at PwC, said: “The surge in green job openings in a contracting job market underscores the increasing demand for green skills, most pressingly in the energy sector where nearly half of all job adverts are now classified as green.
“While this demand is a great signal of intent and opportunity as the UK transitions to net zero, it’s also a sign that green skills are in short supply.
“Given the government’s new increased targets to deliver clean power by 2030, the skills challenge is only going to increase.
“As the government works to shape its new Industrial Strategy, its focus on ensuring we have the right investment, skills, infrastructure, and support to successfully lower emissions, create a low carbon economy, and foster sustainable industries will be fundamental to helping drive UK growth and competitiveness.
“Green jobs are the engine of this new economy, boosting productivity and unlocking opportunities across the UK.”
