Image Credit: Siemens Gamesa
UK Offshore Wind Workforce Reaches 40,000, Signaling Strong Maritime Energy Growth
The UK offshore wind sector now employs nearly 40,000 workers, up from just over 32,000 two years ago, representing a 24 percent increase, according to the latest Wind Industry Skills Intelligence Report 2025 from RenewableUK and the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC). When combined with the onshore wind workforce of around 15,000, the total personnel in the UK wind sector exceeds 55,000.
The report outlines three deployment scenarios for offshore wind by 2030—capacity levels of 39 GW, 47 GW, and 52 GW—alongside a scenario for onshore wind reaching 27 GW by 2030. These projections indicate that the offshore workforce alone will need to grow to between 74,000 and 95,000 roles by the end of the decade, while onshore wind employment is expected to surpass 17,500. Consequently, the total UK wind energy workforce could exceed 112,000 by 2030.
Job creation is expected to concentrate in Scotland, the East of England, and Yorkshire and the Humber. High‑demand roles include wind turbine technicians, installation engineers, high‑voltage cable specialists, environmental advisers, planning officers, and technical managers.
To address the impending demand for skilled labour, the report recommends a national workforce strategy, including the establishment of regional training hubs in coastal communities, fast‑track programmes for new entrants and transitions from other sectors, along with a central observatory to monitor labour supply and skills needs. Closer alignment of STEM education in schools and universities with wind industry requirements is also advised.
The offshore wind industry has seen increasing diversity, with women accounting for 22 percent of the workforce, and is aiming to reach 33 percent by 2030. The average employee age in the sector is under 40, compared with the late 40s in comparable fields, indicating strong interest from younger workers.
A significant skills challenge remains, as the industry must recruit approximately 10,000 new skilled workers annually to meet offshore wind expansion goals by 2030, a requirement acknowledged by both OWIC and RenewableUK.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks referred to offshore wind as the backbone of the UK’s Clean Power by 2030 mission, while OWIC Co‑Chair Richard Sandford emphasized that the sector provides high‑quality employment, typically £10,000 above the UK average salary, and highlights its potential as a clean‑energy export opportunity.
This workforce increase underscores the UK’s green maritime energy transition, contributing to the nation’s decarbonisation objectives and reinforcing energy security. The anticipated expansion of the offshore wind workforce underlines the need for coordinated efforts among industry, government, and educational institutions to avoid bottlenecks in skilled labour and to maximise economic, environmental, and social benefits from the clean‑energy transition.
