New research by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) suggests that the United Kingdom could stand to lose some 35,000 jobs unless the government takes urgent action to transition to clean energy. Several groups have already expressed concern that the country may be falling behind in the global race to transition to green, and this latest outcry serves as yet another call to action.
While most global superpowers are seeking to add millions of green jobs to their respective labor markets through the transition, a loss of jobs this dramatic could indeed indicate that the UK’s government has more work ahead to keep up.
Green Jobs at Stake
In a recent statement, the TUC said it was formally issuing a stern warning that “up to 35,000 manufacturing jobs in the South West could be lost if the UK does not speed up its transition to net zero.”
“New analysis published by the union body highlights how tens of thousands of livelihoods could be at risk unless urgent steps are taken to help traditional industries transition to new forms of production,” the statement read.
While experts have already predicted that hundreds of jobs in the oil and gas sector will be lost during the green transition, countries that successfully achieve net-zero goals are expected to see increases in renewable energy jobs that will dramatically outpace the losses.
However, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak cautioned that the UK “must act now to safeguard our manufacturing sector.”
“Then, today’s workers will know that their jobs are safe and the future is bright with decent jobs for their children too,” he said.
Falling Behind
The TUC pointed out that world powers such as the United States and European Union are already far ahead of the UK in terms of efforts to speed up the transition and create more green jobs. It suggested that the UK take notes from US President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which is already creating hundreds of new green jobs and similar opportunities.
This is just the latest suggestion from the TUC, which previously said the UK might consider introducing a “clean energy superhero” to help the country with its efforts to transition.
“The race to net zero is a race for industrial revival,” Nowak said. “If we move quickly, we can protect and create thousands of good jobs across the South West. But if we don’t, we risk industrial decline and haemorrhaging jobs abroad.”