UK North Sea Offshore Energy Workforce Faces 400-Job Fortnightly Decline Without Intervention

A series of reports from Robert Gordon University warn that the UK’s offshore oil and gas workforce could decline dramatically, losing approximately 400 jobs every two weeks for the next five years unless urgent, coordinated action is taken. The workforce is projected to shrink from 115,000 in 2024 to between 57,000 and 71,000 by the early 2030s, with Scotland particularly vulnerable given its high dependence on the sector, where nearly one in 30 workers are engaged in offshore energy. Despite the potential for the offshore renewables sector to grow significantly, rising from around 39,000 jobs in 2024 to up to 153,000 by 2035, there are concerns over limited capacity to absorb the displaced oil and gas workforce. The reports highlight a critical "workforce Goldilocks zone" between 2025 and 2030, where investment in green projects and sustaining oil and gas activities could stabilize and grow job numbers, potentially reaching over 210,000 by 2030 if ambitious targets are met. However, current policy gaps and investor uncertainty threaten this transition, risking substantial job losses similar in scale to the closure of the Grangemouth refinery every fortnight. Experts call for rapid investment and policy alignment to ensure a just transition and maximize the UK’s offshore energy opportunities.