CleanTech Sector Projected to Add 42,000 Engineering and Construction Jobs by 2030

Image Credit: ECITB

A new study out today suggests that the engineering construction workforce in the North West is only expected to grow by around 2 per cent over the next five years. For a sector so integral to Britain’s net-zero future, the projection raises questions about regional readiness.

Engineering construction underpins some of the country’s most complex and critical infrastructure. We're talking oil and gas, nuclear, power generation, renewables, chemicals, hydrogen, carbon capture, water treatment, the works. These are the industries that build, maintain, and eventually decommission the heavy-duty systems on which we all rely.

The latest forecast comes from the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, or ECITB. Their Labour Forecasting Tool has been updated with fresh findings from the 2024 Workforce Census. It’s also factoring in timelines for more than 3,000 ongoing and future engineering projects across Great Britain. The result? A clearer view of how the workforce is likely to evolve, and where the pressure points will be.

In the Northwest, specifically, the forecast predicts an increase of just 260 workers by 2030. That’s not nothing, but it’s modest compared to national projections. Professions such as project engineers, scaffolders, and mechanical engineers are expected to experience the most demand in the region.

Nationally, the picture looks more ambitious. The overall ECI workforce across Britain could rise by 19 per cent within the same timeframe. It’s a signal that while some areas may see slower growth, the country as a whole is gearing up for a significant ramp-up. That also means the need for regional training hubs is more crucial than ever. Britain doesn’t just need more engineers, it needs mobile, multi-skilled teams ready to deploy wherever the work is.

Interestingly, the peak in labour demand was previously expected in 2028. That’s now been pushed back to 2030. Why? A combination of project delays and a looming wave of retirements in critical roles. The shift highlights the interconnectedness of timing, workforce planning, and infrastructure delivery.

This sharper forecast wouldn’t have been possible without better data. The ECITB saw record participation in this year’s Workforce Census, giving them unprecedented insight into what’s happening on the ground.

In the North West alone, the census covered over 26,000 workers. It captured everything from demographic shifts and sector distribution to hiring pain points and business outlooks. In short, the numbers are more than just stats. They’re a reality check and a call to action.

ECITB Chief Executive Andrew Hockey said: “A key objective of the Foundations pillar of our Leading Industry Learning strategy is to produce impactful labour market intelligence to enable data-driven decision-making.

“The significant Census response rate enabled the ECITB to provide more precise, up-to-date data for the benefit of industry. It allows us to improve the LFT to help make better predictions on future workforce trends and labour demands in the North West.

“Our Workforce Census Report revealed that 77% of ECI employers in the North West are experiencing challenges hiring workers.

“It also highlighted that employers in the region estimate an 8% increase in headcount by 2027, although our latest LFT forecast puts this figure at 2% by 2030.”