Green Skills Reports Roundup, June-22
Our selection of reports and other publications from this month’s reading list.
A Blueprint for Green Workforce Transformation
Deloitte and IEMA, April 2022
Clear, well written occupation and skills analysis of the transition to a ‘green’ future. Identifies the four major shifts: expansion of skills and scope in existing specialist sustainability roles; increased need for green skills in non-specialist roles; transition of workforce from unsustainable sectors to new roles; and demand for green skills in new green sectors and organisations. Case studies from the NHS, Suez, Unilever, Deloitte, National Grid and others are used to illustrate the transition. Out of the analysis and case studies a toolkit is developed which is of value to every organisation to logically work through how they might manage their own transition.
Skills for Smart Local Energy System: Integrated case study report
EnergyRev, University of Strathclyde, May 2022
This short report is intriguing and captures several golden nuggets. First, it lists out a set of skills relevant to smart local energy systems split across seven domains: engineering and design; trade; managerial; energy; finance and business; legal; and policy. And, digging into the detail you find a link to the regularly updated Skills Mapping (this one is Version 1 released on 01 March 2022) and can be drawn upon for those in education and training, policy, qualifications and standards etc. A potentially valuable resource.
Net Zero Jobs: The impact of the transition to net zero on the UK labour market
The Resolution Foundation, June 2022
Very useful analysis using combining UK and USA (O*NET) data and finds the main impact of the transition to net zero will be to change rather than destroy existing jobs. By far the bulk of green jobs are highly skilled and qualified when compared to brown ones. There is also a spatial analysis and the potential number of green jobs being developed but these numbers contrast with those identified in the National Government Association’s recent analysis.
The Net Zero Skills Challenge. Developing a Net Zero 2030 Action Plan.
Manchester Metropolitan University and Net Zero North West, 2021
This is a regional analysis with national significance as it asks a series of key questions about the skills needed to get to net zero, the gaps, the barriers, and the enablers. The analysis forms the basis of what has become the Net Zero Skills Charter, an innovative approach which could be used elsewhere.
Labour Market and Skills Demand Horizon Scanning and Future Scenarios
Research Report, Rand Europe and IER for the Department for Education, May 2022
Very thorough qualitative study which scans the horizon of the labour market over the next 15-20 years to identify the drivers and emerging trends, and to create 5 different scenarios of what the labour market could possibly look like in the future. One of those scenarios is ‘digital greening’ which is then applied across a series of sectors. This analysis complements the multiple quantitative forecast of green jobs and employment.
North Sea Transition Deal. Integrated People and Skills Strategy.
May 2022
At the heart of the North Sea Transition Deal is the transition from oil and gas to a largely renewable future which is also matched by a major growth employment in 2022 from 154,100 to 350,500 in 2050 with the very significant growth of offshore electrification, offshore wind (fixed bottom and floating), hydrogen, and carbon capture utilisation and storage. It is an excellent model that others could adopt and apply to their own local circumstances.
Houston as the epicentre of a global clean hydrogen hub
McKinsey for the Centre for Houston’s Future, Greater Houston Partnership, and Houston Energy Transition Initiative, May 2022
A case study of the growth potential of the hydrogen economy in Houston which could generate 180,000 hydrogen-based jobs by 2050. We have several potential hydrogen hubs in the UK (Teesside, Merseyside, South Wales, Solent, Humberside) that could learn a lot from the thinking behind the developments in Houston.
Smaller businesses and the transition to net zero
British Business Bank, October 2021
Useful survey which starts to show the progress of small businesses on the pathway to implement comprehensive decarbonisation strategies. The analysis identifies four types of business: carbon nimble, carbon complacent, carbon correcting, and carbon exposed. This profile also starts to show the need for capability and capacity to make real progress towards net zero.
Green Skills Adult Provision in London
GLA Research Report by RCU, January 2022
Very detailed analysis looking at green skills, matching them to occupations (Figure 2: RCU Green Skill Categorization) and then to specific courses. Goes into detail for four sectors: building and construction; transport and logistics; environment, conservation, and agriculture; and, energy and the circular economy. Goes beyond just the technical green skills and looks at both enabling (digital; engineering, science and manufacturing) and generic skills (project management; green finance; customer service, marketing and retail; green awareness). Very much a model LEPs could follow to examine their capacity to meet local green skills demand. Two observations: it would be very helpful if the analysis could be dropped beneath the level of London to borough/local labour market levels; and, the report highlights the importance of agreeing a taxonomy of green skills and occupations.
Analysis of a Net Zero 2030 Target for Greater London
Element Energy for the GLA, January 2022
From a skills and employment point of view it makes two very important points about achieving net zero targets by 2030: requires a major individual (citizen) and business behaviour change, and there is a need for additional designated staff. On the employment creation side, a series of task level assumptions are spelt out deep into the report (pages 82-84) which might be worth testing further and updating for use by others.
Review of Skills Taxonomies
Report prepared by Frontier Economics for the Skills and Productivity Board, May 2022
Categorising and defining skills is important to all labour market analyses and especially the emergence of new green skills. This report covers the expected ground of the merits or otherwise of O*NET and ESCO and looks towards the new Future Skills Unit of the Department for Education to take the challenge forward. We see this as very important if green skills policies are to be proactive and to remove potential skill constraints in the transition to a net zero economy.
Human Capital at Work. The Value of Experience.
McKinsey Global Institute, June 2022
Highlights the relevance and power of experience in driving an individual’s progression. The message for green skills is in providing a chance; an opportunity to enter, progress and develop new (green) skills. The whole concept of skills distance (defined in this report is the weighted share of the skills required for a new job that do not overlap with those in the immediately previous job) is an important one, and should be examined further as regards green jobs, and the individual transitions that will be required to enter new careers, extending, and adding new skills. Allied to skills distance, the report highlights the importance of investing in training (60+ hours per employee in those employers where experience is truly translating to personal advancement and career development.
Also coming to our attention this month…
Green Jobs and Skills Analysis
Hull and East Yorkshire LEP, December 2021
Greenhouse gas removal methods and their potential UK deployment
Report published for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy by Element Energy and UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, October 2021
Identifies skills availability as a constraint on deployment of greenhouse gas removal methods but a significant potential for job creation.
Skills and Productivity Board Reports
As we noted in our recent post, the Skills and Productivity Board finally published its raft of reports before handing over to the Green Jobs Delivery Group and Unit for Future Skills. Here are the links to its reports:
Inception Report
Urban Innovative Actions (UIA), February 2022
Covers the role of cities in achieving a just transition to climate neutrality which brings three prime challenges: skills and jobs; democratic transitions for all; and, transition affordable for all.
Overheating in retrofit and existing homes. Tool and guidance to identify and mitigate overheating risks in retrofit and existing homes.
Good Homes Alliance, March 2022
Green Steel POST NOTE No 672
UK Parliament, May 2022
The role of space in driving sustainability, security, and development on earth.
McKinsey and Co., May 2022
Space. The Dawn of a New Age
Citi GPS: Global Perspective and Solutions, May 2022
Big oil reality check. Updated assessment of oil and gas company climate plans.
Oil Change International, May 2022
Walkable neighbourhoods. Building in the right places to reduce car dependency.
Sustrans, May 2022
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