Revealed: The booming British industries paying workers £6,000 more than the national average—and they're not in London!
New figures from the past ten years show a quiet revolution in green jobs
While Britain’s economy barely limped along in 2023—with GDP rising by a meagre 0.1%—a jobs boom has been quietly brewing in some of the UK’s fastest-growing and best-paid sectors. And the best part? These aren’t your usual London-centric roles—many are based in the North and Midlands.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a surge in employment across the UK’s ten lowest-carbon industries, with a stunning 35% rise in full-time equivalent jobs since 2015. That’s over 177,500 new roles, many paying significantly above the national average.
Britain’s clean energy and recycling sectors are leading the charge. Jobs in waste management have soared by almost 57%, the number of people working in renewable energy has more than doubled, and low-carbon transport jobs have nearly tripled.
This hiring spree comes even as other sectors faltered. Employment dropped significantly in 2023 in traditional industries like transport, logistics, IT, entertainment, insurance and banking.
It’s a remarkable shift, especially in a year when the wider economy was essentially flatlining.
And it’s not just workers in London cashing in. The ONS confirmed that these green jobs are being created across the UK, with big gains in the North West, North East and West Midlands. It's a rare reversal of the usual trend that sees the capital scoop up the lion’s share of growth.
The future looks even brighter. As more companies move to slash energy costs and rely on homegrown power, demand for skilled, green-sector workers is set to soar. New environmental regulations on homes and products will only drive this hiring trend further.
Decent money in the green economy
If you thought these were low-paid roles, think again. According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Britain’s biggest trade organisation, the average salary in the low-carbon sector in 2024 hit £43,100, that’s £6,000 above the national average.
And you don’t need a London postcode to cash in. The West Midlands, Yorkshire & the Humber, and South West England all reported high-paying roles.
“These aren’t just more jobs—they’re better jobs,” the CBI said.
Better still, many of them don’t require a university degree. These are skilled, hands-on roles that are driving Britain’s new industrial revolution. Among them:
Heating engineers
Energy efficiency installers (like double glazing and insulation)
Construction managers and operatives
EV mechanics and fleet managers
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure installers
Workers in clean energy and energy-efficient product manufacturing
Recycling and energy-from-waste specialists
Pollution monitoring database managers
Renewable energy construction and maintenance technicians
Forget Silicon Valley—Britain’s green economy is where the real action (and the real money) is.