Green skills job research reveals low number of non-white and female workers

In total 89% and 71% of green jobs in the UK and London respectively are held by white workers

Research led by Middlesex University into the London and UK-wide labour market for ‘green skills’  – which are skills crucial for meeting net zero and wider environmental goals  - has revealed a low representation of non-white and female workers as well as substantial pay gaps compared to their white counterparts.

These findings have been produced as part of London Councils’ Green Economy Programme, chaired by the London Borough of Hounslow. They are based on a three-year research project led by academics from the Centre for Enterprise, Environment & Development Research (CEEDR) at Middlesex University, working with researchers from Kingston University and Royal Holloway, University of London. Professor Michela Vecchi, who worked at Middlesex University before moving to Kingston University, led the green jobs and skills workstream of the project.

The study looked at employment trends in the green economy, shedding light on key factors such as gender equality, age, ethnicity, wage inequalities, and the supply of green skills at graduate level over a period from 2017 to 2022.  Researchers looked at green jobs in areas including homebuilding and landscape, recycle and reuse, power, consultancy and finance. They also analysed specific roles including project managers, IT business analysts, gardeners, electricians, plumbers, construction and building trades.  This analysis of green skills focused on higher education (university degree level) and considered degrees from six areas, namely biological science, agricultural science, engineering, physics/environmental science, technology and architecture.

The research revealed a big difference in who works in green jobs between white and non-white workers. In London and across the UK, 71% and 89% of these roles respectively, are held by white workers, compared with 18% and 7% held by Asian workers and only 4% and 2% by black employees. Academics found there was a higher proportion of workers employed in green jobs in London from different ethnic background compared to the rest of the UK, which was expected as the capital is the UK’s most ethnically diverse region.

The stark differences are also reflected in the pay gap, as white males with green skills in 2021 enjoyed average earnings of £23.14 an hour, compared to Asian workers who earned £21.21 and black workers £18.43 an hour. This means a white worker with a ‘green degree’ earns approximately 26% more than a black worker with a similar qualification. The analysis also highlighted the presence of a substantial gender pay gap. In 2021, in London, a male worker with a green qualification earned, on average, 32% more than a female worker with similar skills. Across the UK, men earned 30% more than women with the same skills. 

“A green worker is prevalently male and of white background, aged 25-44 years. As green jobs are generally better paid, women and workers from minority ethnic backgrounds are not fully enjoying the benefits of the net zero transition.”

Net Zero Transition in London and the UK: Evidence on Green Jobs and Green Skills

Professor Michela Vecchi, who led the report for CEEDR, said: “These results are not surprising as green skills at the graduate level fall within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields where women and minority ethnic backgrounds are underrepresented.
“The findings in the report also indicate that green jobs in London are more likely to demand a university degree than similar roles in other regions, which risks increasing regional income gaps. Enhancing access to higher level green skills and promoting a more balanced geographical distribution of green employment opportunities could play an important role in reducing these income gaps.” 

The study also reveals that graduates with green skills are often not employed in green jobs, which could be due to an insufficient supply of green skills or increased competition for STEM talents. The research found that there was a ‘strong decrease’ of green jobs in the construction sector, particularly in London, at the start of Covid-19.  The report also made several policy recommendations, including to support green job creation, protect workers in high-carbon jobs, encourage green skills workers from disadvantaged backgrounds, and promote STEM education among women and minority groups.

Read the full report - Net Zero Transition in London and the UK: Evidence on Green Jobs and Green Skills. Find out more about the work of CEEDR.

Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash.