Renewable sector job demand on rise in UK

RenewablesCareers.com business manager Rowena Simpson said the renewable energy sector is growing as demonstrated by its most recent figures.

"This is having a knock-on effect on the jobs market, which supports the equivalent of 11,000 full-time jobs in Scotland alone," said Simpson.

"Pockets of new renewable jobs are springing up around the UK, often in areas that have been experiencing a period of economic decline. Siemens, for example, announced plans this month to build a £210 million wind turbine factory at Green Port Hull, creating up to 700 jobs and a further 10,000 in the supply chain to support this development."

"As with the oil and gas industry, we continue to see a shortage of engineers. However, many of those who are newly-qualified are increasingly being drawn to a career in the green sector, with a number of exciting opportunities on the table.

The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change claims that achieving the renewable targets set for 2020 will involve an investment of £100bn which will support about 500,000 jobs in the sector.

A report by Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2011 – Bloomberg New Energy Finance, states that, the growing market of renewable sector will attract more than £4trn investment between 2011 and 2030.

A total of 14,000 engineers were sought by the oil and gas industry in the last 12 months apart from sales, commercial and environmental consultancy roles, according to the website.

The recruitment website has seen a 55% year on year rise in the number of visits to the site since its launch in September 2010.