The number of people employed in green jobs has jumped by more than a third in the past decade, according to official statistics.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that 690,900 people in full-time equivalent (FTE) roles were employed in green jobs in 2023 compared with 513,300 in 2015.
Roles working within waste, energy efficient products and renewable energy accounted for just over half (54%) of green jobs in 2023.
Since 2015, the waste sector has overtaken the energy efficient products grouping to become the biggest provider of green jobs, accounting for 22.9% of the total.
Green jobs are defined by the ONS as “employment in an activity that contributes to protecting or restoring the environment, including those that mitigate or adapt to climate change”. The definition focuses on activities undertaken, rather than environmental impact.
The ONS also looked at relative employment levels within the least and most polluting industries. In 2023, 12.5 million FTE employees, representing nearly half of all UK workers, worked in firms in the 10 industries with the lowest emissions levels, collectively accounting for 4.4% of total emissions. These included accommodation and foodservice which accounted for 1.2% of emissions and 6.6% of employees.
Firms in the five most polluting industries, by contrast, accounted for 81.6% of total emissions in 2023 and 15.8% of total employees. These included energy and gas, transportation and storage, and manufacturing.