Energy and Environment
Overview
Our lives are literally bathed in the products of this sector, not only from the electricity we use for our technology and homes, or the petrol and diesel we put into our cars, but also from the gallons of oil and petrochemicals that are used to make many of our household items and everyday products, including our food and grocery packaging, our clothes and our furniture.
The energy sector is an integral part of the UK economy and key to national sustainability and growth. Comprising the oil, gas and petroleum, nuclear power, coal, renewable energies, waste management and water industries, it’s not surprising that energy is one of the only industries to have flourished during the recent economic downturn.
Oil prices have been at an all time high and are set to remain volatile for the foreseeable future as a result of the emerging world’s insatiable appetite and a curb on production levels.
High prices, unstable supplies and growing concern around climate change have all lead to a greater focus in the UK, and globally, on securing renewable energy resources. Consumers also want a greener environment at the supermarket or shopping mall and all these factors are having a huge impact on the sector.
The renewable energy sector is already booming and while other industries are making large-scale redundancies, there is a growing global skills shortage in this sector. Being such a new industry means that there are relatively few professionals with more than a few years experience. In addition, the majority of jobs are of a technical nature based in engineering and science and these disciplines have been producing significantly fewer graduates over the last decade, despite being in high demand across a number of sectors.
As a result there are a high number of job opportunities in this sector and according to recent studies, including the Doosan Babcock “Energy Pulse” survey of 500 energy experts in the UK, there is a very real sense that the industry is facing a severe skills shortage. As such, there has never been a better time to enter the energy sector. It’s a booming industry with a work hard, play hard mentality, where the salaries are high and the lunches are long!
Geographical
UK oil comes mainly from the North Sea and off the coasts of Aberdeen, Suffolk, Norfolk, Liverpool and Morecambe Bay and there are many jobs in these locations.
Sixty percent of climate change jobs are in South East England with two thirds of these based in London.
Employment Trends
All of the energy and utilities industries need highly technical and professional workers, from specialist engineers to supporting business functions. There is a need for engineers, geologists, ecologists, environmentalists, planners, modellers, operational engineers, research scientists and consultants.
The following industries however are probably facing the greatest skill shortages and thus present the best opportunities for employment.
Nuclear
The nuclear industry employs over 50,000 people in the UK. Nuclear power provides about 22% of the UK’s electricity. Approximately 15,000 well-trained, highly skilled people operate and decommission nuclear power stations in the UK. The industry needs 9,000 graduates over the next decade to maintain existing operations. There will be a further need for scientists and engineers due to the approval for a new generation of nuclear power stations (Cogent: The Sector Skills Council for Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Nuclear, Oil and Gas, Petroleum and Polymers).
Water
The water industry in the UK collects, treats and supplies over 16 billion litres of high quality water to domestic and commercial customers, then collects and treats over 10 billion litres of wastewaters (Water UK). Approximately 160,000 people work in water and associated fields. Currently there is a shortage of skilled workers such as modellers, planners, environmentalists, ecologists and operational engineers (Technology Innovation Centre, Birmingham City University).
Renewable Energy
The green job market is absolutely buzzing and recruiters in this sector are being kept very busy. There are about 5,500 people working in this new sector and employment is rising. A study conducted by Acre Resource in the UK found that the overall number of “green-collar” jobs increased 20% in 2007 / 2008 and the number of climate change specific jobs has grown by nearly 200% in 12 months.
For links to Energy & Environment resources Click Here.
Salary Trends
Acre Resources’ Data shows that the average salary in Climate Change in 2008 was £49,000 (more than $100,000 AUD) which was up 14% from the previous year. The average salary in the wider environmental sector has also increased to around £34,000 and for CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) professionals the average is between £40,000 to £60,000 with the highest potential earnings at around £120,000 (equivalent to approx $250,000 AUD)
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