The British Energy Security Strategy, launched last month, placed offshore wind at the heart of our nation's efforts to boost home-grown, low carbon energy sources as the long-term answer to an affordable, secure energy system. Our 2022 Skills & Employment Survey reflects the rapid, upward trajectory of our industry; 16% growth in jobs since 2021, a growing pipeline of projects and soaring investment to deliver them.
Since the industry agreed the Sector Deal target of 30GW by 2030, this was raised to 40GW, and the Government has set us a new target of 50GW - quadrupling capacity in the next 8 years. We shouldn't underestimate the challenge, there is a long way to go. As the report notes, currently we are not on track for 50GW and that is why industry and Government are working together to streamline the delivery process, from development and planning through to grid connection and construction.
At every step of the process, we'll need even more of the talented, passionate people that make up our workforce. So, unless we get our people strategy right, we won't be able to meet our ambitions. We know that there are skills challenges across the energy sector, and that there will be huge growth in demand for certain skills as the net zero transition accelerates. Already we are seeing electrical engineering and digital skills including data analysis in high demand. These are key roles in project delivery, and we will need ever more of these to hit 50GW.
