UK Plans 20,000 Clean Energy Jobs in Wales by 2030

The UK Government has unveiled its first comprehensive national plan aimed at training and recruiting workers for the clean energy sector, projecting an increase of over 400,000 jobs across the UK by 2030, with Wales and the North East each expected to gain up to 20,000 new clean energy jobs. Key occupations in demand include plumbers, electricians, welders, bricklayers, engineers, and metal workers, with significant employment opportunities in offshore wind, nuclear energy, and carbon capture projects. The plan emphasizes the role of trade unions in ensuring high wages and good working conditions, noting a decline in union coverage in the energy sector over recent decades. The government highlights that entry-level roles in clean energy pay on average 23% more than equivalent jobs in other sectors, with many positions offering salaries exceeding £50,000 annually. Investment in training infrastructure includes the establishment of five new Technical Excellence Colleges and regional skills funding, such as the £1 million allocated to Pembrokeshire. This initiative is positioned as a pro-worker, pro-jobs, and pro-union agenda designed to revitalize industrial communities by providing well-paid, secure jobs locally, thereby reducing the need for workers to relocate for employment.