Employment in Renewables increase of 5 per cent in one year in Scotland

A study by Scottish Renewables reports that are 11695 the people currentely employed in Renewables, a 5 per cent growth from the previous year.

These data show a steady growth of Renewables Industry despite an uncertain year.

Renewable energy offers a wide range of opportunities for project managers, ecologists and engineers that see in Renewable the right sector where they can use their skills and training .

This represents a higher rate of growth in employment when compared to the Scottish economy as a whole.

The survey highlights that most people are employed in the following renewable energy sectors: onshore wind (39 per cent), offshore wind (21 per cent), marine and bioenergy (both 9 per cent) mainly located in Glasgow, the Lothians, Highlands & Islands and the North East regions.

Joss Blamire, Scottish Renewables Senior Policy Manager, states that the country with emerging sectors such as offshore wind and marine energy can give a significant contribution to many local economies, throughout the increase of job opportunities.

Of those companies surveyed more than half (54 per cent) said they would be looking to employ even more people in the next 12 months with a further 42 per cent saying their employment would stay the same and only 1.6 per cent expecting it to decrease.

Mr Blamire, however, points out that Renewables industry could not afford to become complacent over these new figures; in fact the survey has also revealed that market reforms in the electricity sector, planning issues and connecting projects to the grid were all cited as potential barriers that could get in the way of future growth.