ClimateXChange: Assessing Scotland’s net zero workforce requirements 

Supporting Scotland in planning for the workforce implications of the net zero transition in the transport and construction sectors.

Cambridge Econometrics worked with ClimateXChange to address the evidence gaps on Scotland’s future workforce and skills needs for the net zero transition.

The analysis assessed how workforce demand in Scotland could change up to 2045 as part of the transition to net zero in Scotland's transport and construction sectors. It aimed to identify required skills, recruitment and retention challenges, skills gaps and training needs, and the factors affecting workforce development.

The study also translated activities that will help reduce emissions, including renewable energy, improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings, and the move to electric vehicles, into employment demand by occupation and skills, while examining how workforce requirements vary across Scotland over time.

Our Approach:

Cambridge Econometrics developed a technology-to-skills mapping framework that translated net zero technology deployment pathways in Scotland’s transport and construction sectors into detailed workforce and skills requirements.

Combining technology analysis, labour market intelligence and the newly developed UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC), the approach enabled the identification of future workforce bottlenecks and training priorities, providing evidence to support workforce and net zero delivery planning.

The project linked net zero technologies to sectors, occupations and skills using a structured mapping approach, providing detailed insights into future workforce needs.

The framework created in this study is a replicable framework that can be applied to other sectors or regions facing major economic transitions to support evidence-led strategic decision making.

Key findings

Transport

• Employment in vehicle and equipment repair and maintenance is expected to decline slightly overall, but net zero activities will create additional demand for EV-related jobs, increasing from 200 jobs in 2026 to 2,800 by 2045.
• The transition is expected to occur mainly through upskilling and reskilling existing workers, particularly in electrical systems, battery technologies and digital diagnostics.

Constuction

• Employment linked to net zero construction activities is projected to increase from 2,000 jobs in 2026 to 13,800 jobs by 2035, before declining as major deployment phases are completed.
• Demand will be particularly strong for occupations such as electricians, plumbers, heating engineers, carpenters, joiners, and construction project managers.
  

Emerging skills

Transport

Major emerging skills relate to:

• EV systems

• Digital diagnostics

• Connected vehicles

• Battery systems

• Electrical charging infrastructure

Construction

Emerging skills relate to:

• Solar energy systems

• Smart energy infrastructure

• Building energy management systems (BEMS)

• Energy efficiency

• Smart homes

• Renewable energy technologies

Cross-sector workforce mobility

• There is substantial overlap between the occupations and skills required from the net zero transition across both transport and construction, especially among electricians, engineering technicians and telecommunications installers.

• Considerable overlap also exists between skills demanded by these sectors and manufacturing and professional services, creating opportunities for labour mobility but also potential competition for skilled workers.  

Outcomes of the analysis

The main outcome of this project was the creation of an evidence base to help Scotland plan for the workforce implications of the net zero transition in the transport and construction sectors. 

The report concluded that coordinated workforce planning across sectors will be needed to ensure Scotland has the skills required for the net zero transition. Policy priorities include expanding training, supporting upskilling and reskilling, keeping training aligned with new technologies, and making it easier for workers to move between sectors. 

By identifying which technologies are likely to be deployed, which sectors will be involved, and which occupations and skills will be required, the analysis provided a clear picture of future workforce demand and potential skills gaps. This enabled stakeholders to move beyond high-level net zero ambitions and understand the practical workforce challenges associated with delivering them. 

The project also contributed to a wider policy agenda around workforce planning and skills development. By linking net zero technologies to occupations and skills through the UK Standard Skills Classification, the study provided evidence on where training provision, reskilling initiatives and education policies may need to be strengthened. In doing so, it helped connect climate policy objectives with labour market skills and policies, supporting a more coordinated approach to delivering the transition to net zero. 

A key outcome was the identification of potential workforce bottlenecks and training priorities. The analysis enabled policymakers and stakeholders to understand not only the scale of future workforce requirements but also the specific capabilities that may be in high demand. This information can be used to prioritise investment in skills, target intervention at occupations facing the greatest pressures, and support discussion between government, industry and training providers about future workforce needs.