The number of people employed in green jobs across the UK has surged by 34.6% since 2015, with waste management, energy-efficient products, and renewable energy accounting for more than half of the sector’s total workforce.
Employment in green industries has experienced rapid growth over the past decade, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The report, Estimates of green jobs, UK: July 2025, shows that full-time equivalent (FTE) employment in green roles rose to 690,900 in 2023, an increase of 177,600 FTEs compared to 2015, when the figure stood at 513,300.
The findings highlight how the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy is reshaping the job market. Key activities within green industries – waste, energy-efficient products, and renewable energy – were responsible for 54.3% of total green employment in 2023.
Notably, roles within the waste and recycling industry now account for just over half of all green employment, underlining the pivotal role of the circular economy in driving sustainable economic growth.
These sectors alone have seen major gains, with renewable energy roles increasing by 153.9% (an additional 43,100 FTEs) and waste employment growing by 56.7% (57,300 FTEs) between 2015 and 2023. Low-carbon transport has also been a significant driver, with employment rising by 181% (24,800 FTEs).
The data, which uses three separate approaches (industry, firm, and occupation) to measure green employment, also provides insight into how different industries contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The firm-based approach reveals that around 12.5 million FTEs (46% of the UK workforce) were employed in the ten industries with the lowest levels of non-household greenhouse gas emissions in 2023.
These industries collectively accounted for just 4.4% of such emissions. In contrast, 4.3 million FTEs (15.8% of the total workforce) were concentrated in the five industries with the highest emissions, responsible for 81.6% of total non-household emissions.
Regional differences are also pronounced. Approximately 23.9% of East Midlands FTE employees worked in the five highest-emission industries, compared to just 7.2% in London – reflecting the capital’s service-led economy and lower reliance on heavy industry.
Circular economy plays key role
The growing prominence of the circular economy – which focuses on reusing, recycling, and extending the life of materials – is a key factor behind the rise in green employment, particularly in waste and resource management.
Commenting on the findings, Diane Crowe, Group Sustainability Director at Reconomy, said: “It is encouraging to see continued momentum in the UK’s transition to a greener economy, with employment across the sector expanding significantly. Notably, roles within the waste and recycling industry now account for just over half of all green employment, underlining the pivotal role of the circular economy in driving sustainable economic growth.
“Across the UK, workers in the circular economy are tackling one of the most pressing structural challenges in the economy – the overreliance on the extraction of virgin materials to fuel economic growth which is a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions.
“These employees are helping businesses decouple growth from resource use by making better use of materials, keeping them in circulation for longer and diverting waste from landfill. Not only is this helping businesses lower their environmental impact, but it is also unlocking material cost savings, driving operational efficiencies and sustainable profitability.”
Future growth prospects
The ONS data suggests that the UK’s green workforce is set to expand further in the coming years as businesses and government invest in decarbonisation.
Policies promoting renewable energy, electric vehicle infrastructure, and sustainable construction are likely to accelerate demand for skilled workers in these areas.
However, experts have warned that continued progress will depend on sustained policy support and workforce training to ensure that the UK has the necessary skills to meet its net-zero targets.
With waste and recycling already making up more than half of green jobs, the report highlights how the shift towards a circular economy is no longer just an environmental imperative but a major driver of economic and employment growth.