Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) data shows a 145% rise in the proportion of homes listing a heat pump as their main heating source since 2020, alongside a 129% increase in homes with solar panels and a 36% rise in wind turbine installations.

This rapid uptake of low-carbon technologies is fuelling demand for skilled workers who can install, maintain and optimise these systems. From solar and heat pump engineers to retrofit assessors and building performance experts, the technologies appearing on EPCs today are directly linked to some of the fastest-growing careers in the UK’s green economy.

Job search data reflects this growing interest. Online searches for heat pump engineer roles have risen by 29% in the past year, with similar growth seen in thermal insulation engineer (+28%) and solar panel installer (+11%) searches. Strategic green roles are also on the rise: sustainability analyst searches are up 30%, and sustainability manager searches up 23%.

Table 1: Fastest growing green job searches

Source: Uswitch.com

Employers are actively recruiting to meet this demand. More than 4,300 UK job adverts mention “building performance”, while “energy management” (2,430) and “clean technology” (2,427) appear in thousands more. Leadership and compliance skills are also in high demand, with over 1,000 listings each for terms like sustainable development (1,320), environmental compliance (1,197) and sustainable business (1,405).

Table 2: Most in-demand sustainability skills in UK job adverts

Source: Uswitch.com

Salaries for green roles are often competitive, reflecting the technical expertise required. HVAC technicians top the chart at £41,358, followed by thermal insulation engineers (£39,536) and solar and wind engineers (£39,447). Even newer roles like retrofit assessor (£38,216) and sustainability consultant (£36,789) offer attractive earning potential. Heat pump installer roles, a key entry route into the sector, average £24,300.

Table 3: Average salaries for green energy roles

Source: Uswitch.com

“The way we heat and power our homes is evolving, bringing new opportunities in green jobs and skills.

“From heat pump engineers to sustainability analysts, there’s growing demand for people who can help make homes cleaner and more efficient. And with solar, wind and insulation tech becoming more mainstream, now’s the time to plug into a career that powers real change.

“It’s also important to remember that making green savings doesn’t always mean installing new technology, simple changes in how we use energy, or switching to greener tariffs, can make a real difference.”