Labour has said that job opportunities for almost 4 million workers would be created under its plan to bring 19m of the UK’s leakiest homes up to an acceptable standard of insulation.
While it has previously said that the plan would reduce annual household energy bills by up to £500, the party has set out details of what it said would be a major expansion of the retrofitting workforce.
More than 4 million people have skills that will be needed in retrofit jobs, but only 200,000 people are currently working to retrofit homes, Labour said, citing research by the progressive thinktank Autonomy.
Researchers matched the skills required to retrofit homes with the skills in other occupations. While the plan would mean an obvious boost for glaziers, solar and insulation installers, plumbers and heating engineers, examples of existing occupations that could move into key retrofit roles include roofers and floorers, construction workers and skilled workers in sectors such as aerospace.
Ed Miliband, the shadow climate and net zero secretary, said: “Creating these good jobs across every part of our country is a crucial part of building a stronger economy and making working people better off.”
Labour has said that its scheme would be led by local councils and would invest up to £6bn a year for 10 years to give families grants and loans to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes, cutting energy bills and emissions.
It said the scheme would support more than 206,000 new full-time equivalent jobs in retrofitting industries created across the UK in the first year.
The direct and indirect employment boost was estimated to be enough to sustain an average of 515,000 new jobs over four years.
The Conservatives attacked Labour’s plan, claiming that the party only had one central energy plan: “£28bn a year of borrowing and debt that would drive up inflation and interest rates, and make us more energy insecure.,” said a spokesperson.
“Until they can explain how they would fund this scheme without resorting to reckless borrowing or higher taxes, it’s just more hot air from Labour.”
The Tories cited Office for National Statistics figures showing that the number of homes with an energy efficiency rating of C or above has risen from 13% in 2010 to 46% today.
