The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Green ‘jobs bonanza’ a pipe dream says union
Offshore: Government taken to task
A predicted boom in North Sea offshore wind jobs was branded “a pipe dream” by union bosses after the Scottish Government admitted it only uses “estimates” of current employment figures in the sector.
The Scottish Government, who provided a jobs tally estimate by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), also admitted it does not hold data on any new jobs created in the sector.
North East MSP Lewis Macdonald said the government was “well aware” of the current jobs figure. “The problem is that many of these jobs are not in Scotland. The work is being done elsewhere.”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney faced criticism last year over a prediction in 2010 that the sector could employ nearly 30,000 by 2020.
The current number is understood to be closer to 1,900.
Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said: “The latest data by the ONS highlights that direct employment is around 2,000 jobs when a green jobs bonanza of 28,000 was promised 10 years ago by the Scottish Government.
“We now have definite proof that this has been a pipe dream.”
GMB Scotland organiser Gary Smith claimed the government refused to answer questions on offshore wind job creation because “the truth doesn’t support their story”.
Scottish Renewables chief executive Claire Mack urged the Scottish Government to “work with industry and act to resolve these issues”.
RENEWABLES: The Scottish Government has come in for criticism after admitting it only uses “estimates” of current employment figures in the offshore wind sector and does not hold data on new jobs created in the sector.