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UP TO 95,000 offshore jobs are at risk without investment in renewables and workers to build them, according to a new report.
The Robert Gordon University study, published today, outlined a stark choice ahead for offshore jobs; investment in renewables and jobs growth, or thousands of job losses as oil and gas declines.
The Powering Up the Workforce report predicts offshore energy jobs could grow from 150,000 to 225,000 in the next decade, with the majority in renewables, but only with investment in skills over the next five years.
The university’s Professor Paul de Leeuw warned: “Inaction or simply slow progress will mean that offshore energy job numbers overall could drop by 15 per cent to 130,000 by 2030, making the path towards net zero even harder to negotiate.”
STUC general secretary Roz Foyer told the Star: “The STUC has repeatedly argued that there is a potential jobs bonanza if we get the policy on renewables right.
“But this involves significant investment, public ownership and conditionality in the supply chain.
“Our research indicates that the figures in this report are an accurate reflection of the opportunity, but also the risk, if we don't get this right.”
Climate activists This is Rigged were damning of the performance of the Scottish government’s £50m-a-year Just Transition Fund, arguing it is failing to support workers to re-skill.
A This is Rigged spokesperson told the Star: “As it stands, rather than supporting the needs of Scotland’s oil workers, the transition fund money is being invested into unproven carbon capture technology.
“In March this year, a coalition involving 1,000 North Sea oil workers set out their demands for a fair transition.
“A fair transition means supporting workers through this transition, not hanging them out to dry and seeing a repeat of the miners under Thatcher.
“Crucially, we also know that the continuation of the fossil fuel industry is ensured destruction for humanity.
“There are no jobs for oil workers when half of the bloody country is underwater.
“A rapid fair transition is vital because billions of lives are at stake.
“With 60 per cent of UK’s offshore wind capacity, Scotland could be a part of the change to a fair, renewable future, or the Scottish government could remain complicit in the genocide of frontline communities.”
SNP wellbeing economy secretary Neil Gray commented: “This report fully chimes with the analysis undertaken to inform our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.”
