The number of people working in the offshore wind industry has risen by 24% in two years, from just over 32,000 two years ago to nearly 40,000 today, according to RenewableUK and the Offshore Wind Industry Council.
The Wind Industry Skills Intelligence Report 2025 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. 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.
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, which will mean the number of jobs in onshore wind will rise to over 17,500.
It says the total UK wind workforce could reach over 112,000 by 2030, with a large proportion in Scotland, the east of England and in Yorkshire and the Humber.
The report recommends development of a national workforce strategy, including regional training hubs in coastal communities around the UK, with a focus on training and upskilling, and fast track approaches for new entrants and those from other sectors in the skills and roles most needed by the industry. A central workforce data observatory should be established to monitor labour supply, demand and skills gaps.
Skills shortages that need to be addressed include high voltage cable specialists, wind turbine technicians, environmental advisers, 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, or former military personnel, to retrain for these roles in renewables.