The number of people working in the UK offshore wind industry has risen from just over 32,000 two years ago to nearly 40,000 today – an increase of 24%, according to a new report.
The figure was revealed in the Wind Industry Skills Intelligence Report 2025, which was released today by RenewableUK and the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC).
The report also reveals that the number of people working in onshore wind in the UK now stands at just over 15,000. This brings the UK’s total current wind industry workforce to over 55,000.
The report projects future job numbers by examining three potential deployment scenarios for offshore wind in 2030, with installed capacities of 39GW, 47GW and 52GW. It also includes a scenario for onshore wind of 27GW by 2030, in line with government targets to reach clean power within the next five years.
These projections show that between 74,000 and 95,000 people will be needed to support the accelerated deployment of offshore wind by the end of the decade, while the number of jobs in onshore wind will rise to over 17,500.
This means the total UK wind workforce could reach over 112,000 by 2030. The highest numbers of new jobs are expected to be created in Scotland, the east of England and in Yorkshire and the Humber.
To ensure the roles can be filled with people who have the right skills, the report recommends the development of a national workforce strategy, including the creation of regional training hubs in coastal communities around the UK.
The report also calls for a central workforce data observatory to be established to monitor labour supply, demand and skills gaps. Industry should work with education providers to offer apprenticeships and internship programmes, the report adds.
The study identifies specific jobs roles where skills shortages need to be addressed to meet the demand for workers, such as high-voltage cable specialists, wind turbine technicians, environmental advisors, installation engineers, planning officers and technical managers.
It highlights opportunities for workers in other parts of the energy sector with relevant experience such as oil and gas, to retrain for these roles in renewables.
RenewableUK’s deputy chief executive Jane Cooper said: “This report shows that the number of people working in high quality well-paid jobs in the wind industry onshore and offshore is set to grow even higher over the next five years, well beyond the 55,000 employed today.
“But it also identifies a looming skills gap which we have to address by recruiting and training enough workers to take on a wide variety of new roles in renewables though technical apprenticeships and graduate training programmes.”
OWIC industry co-chair Richard Sandford added: “The offshore wind industry is a fantastic opportunity for the UK – not just to build crucial clean energy projects and create new supply chains, but to export our products and expertise worldwide as we are a recognised global leader in this technology.
“Crucially, this report contains key recommendations to attract the tens of thousands of new workers of all ages and from all backgrounds we need to maximise our success in the years ahead.”
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “This report highlights exactly how the clean energy transition is the economic opportunity of the 21st century.
“Delivering the Plan for Change means winning the race for the clean energy jobs of the future, which will drive growth and help us reach clean power by 2030.
“That is why this government is doubling down on our clean energy superpower mission – driving economic growth, good jobs and investment across the country.”