Green jobs

The LRD survey found that only 7% of respondents can confirm that their employer is creating any “green” new jobs. There is no movement in this area compared to the 2009 survey results.

In many cases where green jobs have been created, the respondents’ employer is part of the green technology industry and is therefore automatically creating green work when it expands, as explained by a Unite rep working for wind manufacturer Siemens: “Being a supplier of windfarms, Siemens has created a number of jobs in this area, and will do, for some years to come.”

However respondents to the survey also mentioned the creation of a range of jobs in environmental management with appointments of sustainability officers frequently mentioned — for example GMB reps at Heatherwood & Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust report the appointment of an energy efficiencies manager and Prospect reps at Scottish National Heritage report the recruitment of two greening officers whose roles are to facilitate greening across the organisation. A Unite rep at Nestle UK reports that they have someone who manages recycling skips on a daily basis while a Unite rep at energy supplier E.On says there is a new job advertised for someone to look into developing and improving green travel and promote “telemeet” conferencing within the business.