The number of green jobs advertised in the West Midlands has fallen from the record levels recorded in 2022, according to new research.
However, demand remains resilient as more were created in 2023 as a proportion of the West Midlands employment market.
According to the latest Green Jobs Barometer published by financial services firm PwC, there were 16,157 green opportunities advertised in the region in 2023, compared with just over 24,000 in 2022, a 32.8 per cent decrease.
However, green jobs accounted for 2.1 per cent of total overall roles in the region in 2023, increasing slightly from 2.03 per cent last year.
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The report also found that green jobs in financial services (2.5 per cent) and the public sector (6.7 per cent) in the West Midlands have increased, while green jobs in sectors including manufacturing (-53.3 per cent) and construction (-39.9 per cent) have decreased.
The barometer results come during a challenging economic time which has seen the number of total advertised roles in the UK fall by 29 per cent while the number of green jobs fell by 26 per cent.
Becky Clayton, environmental, social and corporate governance deals partner at PwC in the Midlands, said: "Despite 2023 being an economically challenging year, it is positive to see that the West Midlands increased the proportion of green jobs advertised compared to total jobs.
"Green jobs represent the future of work and demand for these types of roles and skills will grow over the next decade, driven by the green agenda and the UK's commitment to net zero.
"Employers in the West Midlands have an opportunity to innovate and consider how their operations can become greener, particularly in the manufacturing sector that represents a high proportion of the West Midlands economy.
"The decline in green jobs in this sector is, in part, to economic challenges and businesses focusing on short term needs instead of looking at future investments.
"However, while these jobs are future focused, investing in the right areas now could also help alleviate some current issues too. For example, there are new emerging industries such as cleantech where demand for skills is expected to increase.
"Embracing new, greener technologies and investing in skills will provide benefits for business operations and more employment opportunities in the region, as well as making the West Midlands a more sustainable region."
