Tens of thousands jobs could be created as part of green economy
Workers would need new skills and training
Nearly 30,000 jobs in North Yorkshire would be created or become in higher demand in a shift to a green economy, new analysis suggests.
However, tens of thousands of other roles would be at risk, with workers needing new skills and training.
The study – published by council leaders’ group UK100 – is calling for a Green New Deal to drive the recovery from the Covid-19 crisis while creating a zero-carbon society by 2050.
An estimated 29,198 jobs would be generated or would be readily adaptable to more sustainable industries in North Yorkshire, according to the analysis.
Such jobs would come to make up 11% of the local landscape in a green revolution.
The findings – based on figurescompiledbytheGrantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment – also suggest how people in various sectors might have to retrain.
This could include a car mechanic learning to repair electric vehicles, roofers becoming solar panel installers, or oil and gas technicians transferring to offshore wind farms.
In North Yorkshire, 28,032 such roles would be affected– fewer than the number that would be created.
According to the research, the most at-risk sectors in terms of the number of jobs that will require retraining in North Yorkshire are: ○ Manufacturing (5,387) ○ Construction (3,404) ○ Transport and storage, including postal (3,300)
But there was some overlap in the areas flagged as standing to benefit the most in terms of high demand and new roles: ○ Manufacturing (10,332) ○ Construction (3,462) ○ Business administration and support services (2,559)
Prime minister Boris Johnson recently set out plans to fuel the economic recovery as the country begins to emerge from the pandemic, including a promise to “build back greener”.
A treasury spokesman said: “As we take action to rebuild our economy we will aim to drive clean, sustainable and inclusive growth across all regions of the UK.”
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