London’s Green Economy is Greening – but the Workforce is Missing the Manual
According to a fresh Green Skills report from London Councils, the city’s green future technically looks bright – we’ve got energy‑saving builders, EV chargers, green finance gurus, and more – but the only thing that’s lagging is the number of skilled hands ready to climb that ladder.
Key Sectors Powering the Green Boom
- Construction – retrofitting the city’s existing buildings to become power‑hungry, but more eco‑friendly.
- Power – shifting to solar, wind, and other renewables.
- Low‑Carbon Transport – the rise of electric cars, bikes, and public transit clean tracks.
- Green Finance – funding green projects with smart money strategies.
With these four pillars, London expects a jump of 505,000 green jobs by 2030, and a quadruple leap to over a million gigs by 2050. Sounds like a dream, right?
The Shortfall – Why the Numbers Don’t Add Up
Even with £54m earmarked for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and a hefty £40m push for EV charging stations, the big hurdle remains: we simply do not have enough skilled workers. Construction crews lag behind in retrofits; EV installers are not keeping pace with the infrastructure roll‑out. The result? Even the most ambitious plans are stuck in traffic.
What the Report Suggests – Time for a Green Power Play
- Create a 5‑year Net Zero Skills Strategy for London, with concrete targets and milestones.
- Push for joint lobbying between London Councils and the GLA to demand a clear national policy that boosts green skill training.
- Ask for more devolution – giving local governments the autonomy and funding to build the green economy from the ground up.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz sums it up sharply: “London is ready to double the green job market by 2030, but we’re still stuck pulling up our boots for the workforce. We’ve installed 15,000+ EV chargers already, so we know we can deliver – we just need the right support and a solid plan.”
Let’s Make It Happen
Because the future of the city can’t wait – green skills are the linchpin for net zero and a thriving, inclusive economy. Investing now means London will have the skilled workers and eco‑industries it needs for the next decades. And no, you can’t just roll back and hope for the best – that’s not how the planet works.
