The United Kingdom’s pursuit of a net-zero economy is driving a rapid increase in demand for engineers, outpacing other occupations. A study reveals that vacancies for ‘green engineering’ roles have risen by 55 percent in the UK over the past five years.
The report indicates that there were approximately 6.1 million engineering jobs, including technology roles, across all industries in 2021. This figure represents around 19 percent of all jobs in the UK. Moreover, recruitment activity for engineering positions accounted for 25 percent of all job postings in the country over the past year.
With engineers playing a crucial role in developing solutions to combat climate change, the report reveals a 48 percent increase in engineering job advertisements mentioning ‘green skills’. In 2021-2022 alone, there were 212,000 job postings related to green roles. This demonstrates the wide-reaching application of these skills across various engineering sectors, including civil, electrical, ICT and software, underscoring their importance to the overall economy.
The increasing demand for engineers is also reflected in the salaries offered, with the average advertised salary in engineering (£38,600) nearly 30 percent higher than the average salary across all occupations (£30,000).
As the UK intensifies its efforts to achieve a sustainable future, the surging demand for engineers, particularly in green roles, underscores their vital role in driving innovation and addressing environmental challenges. With engineers at the forefront of the transition to a green economy, their expertise will be instrumental in shaping a sustainable future for the United Kingdom.
