Green Expectations: London jobless set to benefit from environmental initiatives
13 September 2010 11:08
London Development Agency (London)
Employment in 'Green' jobs is tipped to grow by 18,000 over the next two years despite the current jobs climate, according to a report launched by the London Development Agency (LDA) today.
Green Expectations sets out London's low carbon job prospects from 2008/09 to 2012/13.
The report's key findings include:
* Job Growth in London's low carbon sector, particularly in renewable energy, is forecast to exceed all other sectors in the next two years.
* In 2008/09 approximately 100,000 people were employed in the low carbon sector in London, and by 2013 18,000 new jobs will be created.
* An estimated 2,200 of these net new jobs in the low carbon sector will be accessible to workless or low-skilled Londoners.
* The current skills profile of the sector is characterised by high skills with more than one in two employees having a degree. However, a quarter of all jobs in the sector currently require skills at Level 2 and below.
* Higher Education provision is well developed and is seen as meeting the needs of the emerging sector. In contrast, the further education sector has yet to fully respond to the potential of the low carbon economy and this may hamper the ability of low skilled Londoners to benefit from the transition to a low carbon economy.
London Development Agency Director of Employment Stephen Evans said:
"Green Expectations provides a blueprint for future job growth in London's low carbon sector, enabling us to identify job growth in this sector and develop a series of innovative projects to help workless Londoners to benefit.
"Working closely with central and local government and London business we will be using the findings of this report to build on our Low Carbon Employment and Skills Programme and increase job opportunities in this sector across the Capital."
The LDA's Low Carbon Employment and Skills Programme provides on-the-ground job brokerage and employment opportunities for London's workless.
Through programmes like RE:NEW, the LDA is already working with London boroughs and companies involved in building retrofitting programmes to identify job opportunities. Green Expectations, coupled with international benchmarking research, provides a sound evidence base for further public sector intervention in this expanding market.
The launch of Green Expectations coincides with a visit by a group of peer experts from the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) who are in the capital to help London in its efforts to become a Leading Low Carbon Capital. The OECD's study will focus on how well placed London is to benefit from transition to a low carbon economy, with a particular focus on the creation of jobs and the development of a skilled 'green' workforce. This work will contribute to a wider OECD study into Green Jobs in 2011.
Andy Westwood, Chairman of the OECD Forum on Social Innovations said:
"London is a global city and its commitment to tackling climate change is recognised internationally. Today's report provides a strong evidence base on the extent of job opportunities in the Low Carbon Economy and London should be praised for its leadership in designing programmes to enable the low skilled and workless Londoners to benefit from the transition to a low carbon economy."
The London Development Agency's Stephen Evans added:
"Our investment in 'green' jobs programmes demonstrates the flexibility and innovation of the London Development Agency, to tailor its programmes to meet demand and harness future growth opportunities. This research will support a number of initiatives we have underway to get more people closer to the job market and help provide London's low carbon businesses with the necessary skills to enable London to meet the Mayor's commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025."
The Green Expectations report is available from the LDA website: http://www.lda.gov.uk/our-work/getting-london-working/labour-market-research-and-intelligence/index.aspx
The report's key findings include:
* Job Growth in London's low carbon sector, particularly in renewable energy, is forecast to exceed all other sectors in the next two years.
* In 2008/09 approximately 100,000 people were employed in the low carbon sector in London, and by 2013 18,000 new jobs will be created.
* An estimated 2,200 of these net new jobs in the low carbon sector will be accessible to workless or low-skilled Londoners.
* The current skills profile of the sector is characterised by high skills with more than one in two employees having a degree. However, a quarter of all jobs in the sector currently require skills at Level 2 and below.
* Higher Education provision is well developed and is seen as meeting the needs of the emerging sector. In contrast, the further education sector has yet to fully respond to the potential of the low carbon economy and this may hamper the ability of low skilled Londoners to benefit from the transition to a low carbon economy.
London Development Agency Director of Employment Stephen Evans said:
"Green Expectations provides a blueprint for future job growth in London's low carbon sector, enabling us to identify job growth in this sector and develop a series of innovative projects to help workless Londoners to benefit.
"Working closely with central and local government and London business we will be using the findings of this report to build on our Low Carbon Employment and Skills Programme and increase job opportunities in this sector across the Capital."
The LDA's Low Carbon Employment and Skills Programme provides on-the-ground job brokerage and employment opportunities for London's workless.
Through programmes like RE:NEW, the LDA is already working with London boroughs and companies involved in building retrofitting programmes to identify job opportunities. Green Expectations, coupled with international benchmarking research, provides a sound evidence base for further public sector intervention in this expanding market.
The launch of Green Expectations coincides with a visit by a group of peer experts from the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) who are in the capital to help London in its efforts to become a Leading Low Carbon Capital. The OECD's study will focus on how well placed London is to benefit from transition to a low carbon economy, with a particular focus on the creation of jobs and the development of a skilled 'green' workforce. This work will contribute to a wider OECD study into Green Jobs in 2011.
Andy Westwood, Chairman of the OECD Forum on Social Innovations said:
"London is a global city and its commitment to tackling climate change is recognised internationally. Today's report provides a strong evidence base on the extent of job opportunities in the Low Carbon Economy and London should be praised for its leadership in designing programmes to enable the low skilled and workless Londoners to benefit from the transition to a low carbon economy."
The London Development Agency's Stephen Evans added:
"Our investment in 'green' jobs programmes demonstrates the flexibility and innovation of the London Development Agency, to tailor its programmes to meet demand and harness future growth opportunities. This research will support a number of initiatives we have underway to get more people closer to the job market and help provide London's low carbon businesses with the necessary skills to enable London to meet the Mayor's commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025."
The Green Expectations report is available from the LDA website: http://www.lda.gov.uk/our-work/getting-london-working/labour-market-research-and-intelligence/index.aspx
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