Press Release
More Scots believe renewable energy will create more jobs than oil and gas
24 June 2024
24 June 2024
New polling reveals that, of those who expressed an opinion, nearly two-thirds (59 per cent) of people in Scotland think investing in renewable energy is most likely to create the most jobs in Scotland in future, compared to less than a third (30 per cent) who believe the same about investing in oil and gas.
The polling also reveals that, of those who expressed an opinion, the vast majority of Scots (85 per cent) have little to no trust in fossil fuel companies to cut oil and gas production to meet net zero targets without government intervention.
The future of oil and gas jobs has been a key battleground in the general election campaign. New polling, conducted by YouGov on behalf of non-partisan think tank Future Economy Scotland, asked 1,117 adults in Scotland for their views on whether investing in renewable energy or new North Sea oil and gas drilling is most likely to create the most jobs in Scotland in future.
The findings excluding ‘don’t knows’ reveal that:
- 59 per cent of people in Scotland think investing in renewable energy is most likely to create the most jobs in Scotland in future, compared with only 30 per cent who say the same about investing in new oil and gas. This includes 77 per cent of Labour voters, 72 per cent of SNP voters, 62 per cent of Liberal Democrat voters and 29 per cent of Conservative voters.
The polling also asked how much trust people have in fossil fuel companies to reduce oil and gas production without government intervention to meet the UK’s 2050 net zero emissions target. The findings excluding ‘don’t knows’ reveal that:
- 85 per cent of adults in Scotland ‘have little to no trust in fossil fuel companies to reduce oil and gas production to meet the UK’s net zero commitments. This includes 91 per cent of Labour voters, 89 per cent of SNP voters, 78 per cent of Liberal Democrat voters and 77 per cent of Conservative voters.
- A large majority in all regions of Scotland said they had either “not very much” or “none at all” trust in fossil fuel companies to voluntarily reduce oil and gas production to meet net zero targets. This includes 79 per cent of voters who live in the North East of Scotland, and 84 per cent of those in the Highlands and Islands.
Commenting on the polling, Miriam Brett, co-director of Future Economy Scotland, said:
“Our polling shows that voters across Scotland overwhelmingly believe that investing in renewable energy is most likely to create the most jobs in Scotland in future. The number of jobs supported by the oil and gas sector is already in long-term decline, more than halving from 441,000 jobs in 2013 to 214,000 jobs in 2023 – despite hundreds of new licences having been issued over this period.
“We know that the status quo won’t provide the long-term job security needed for oil and gas workers. Transitioning to net zero in a way that protects oil and gas workers and communities will require a significant restructuring of our labour market and industrial base – and we cannot rely on the market alone to steward this transition.
“As our polling shows, the majority of Scots do not believe fossil fuel companies can be trusted to reduce oil and gas production to meet the UK’s 2050 net zero commitment without government intervention. Done well, the transition to net zero has the potential to create many more jobs than will be lost. However, this will require proactive policies to scale up green investment, create new jobs, and re-skill and retrain workers. As things stand, however, we lack the credible roadmap for delivering the just transition to net zero that Scotland needs.
“The longer we continue down the current path, the more we fail oil and gas workers and communities. Marginal changes to the status quo won’t cut it, and now is not the time for timidity.”
-ENDS-
NOTES TO EDITORS
[1] All polling figures are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 1,117 adults in Scotland. Fieldwork was undertaken between 14th and 18th June 2024. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults in Scotland (aged 18+).
[2] Political party allegiance is based on how people said they voted at the 2019 UK general election.
[3] Figures quoted on jobs in the oil and gas sector are based on analysis from Uplift UK and published in The Herald: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23954780.north-sea-supported-jobs-halved-last-decade-despite-tory-support/
[4] Future Economy Scotland is a non-partisan think tank that aims to create a new economy that is democratic, sustainable and just. The organisation does not have a formal stance on Scotland’s constitutional future, and is not aligned to any political party or any politician. The organisation is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee operating with charitable principles. For more information, visit: www.futureeconomy.scot
[5] To book an interview with a spokesperson, or for any other questions, please contact press@futureeconomy.scot or call 07428192437 or 07909107890