UK oil and gas workers left behind in the energy transition, new research finds

“Our position is rooted in a plan for a just transition and a fair-minded analysis of what the science demands.”

Those are the words of the UK’s Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband. But what does a ‘just transition’ towards more renewable forms of energy look like for those whose livelihoods and careers revolve around the shrinking oil and gas industry?

New research highlights an urgent gap between government promises of a “Just Transition” and the lived reality of offshore oil and gas workers.

A study from led by Dr Kirsty Denyer at Henley Business School consisted of in-depth interviews with UK offshore workers and industry stakeholders to explore what a Just Transition should mean in practice. The findings suggest that, for many workers, it is not happening yet.

Researchers found that oil and gas workers face chronic job insecurity in a sector already in long‑term decline. Redundancies, short‑term contracts and repeated industry downturns are taking a toll not just financially, but also on mental health. While renewable energy is often presented as a natural alternative, workers described significant barriers to accessing these roles.

Barriers to accessing jobs in the renewable sector

These obstacles include skill mismatches, a lack of hands‑on experience opportunities, costly and duplicated certification requirements, and stigma associated with an oil and gas background. Some workers reported feeling “pigeonholed” by employers in renewables or beyond, while older workers felt particularly excluded from retraining opportunities.

Researchers challenge assumptions that any job in a low‑carbon sector qualifies as a just outcome. Workers emphasised the importance of secure, meaningful employment that reflects their skills, pay levels and desire for challenging work, and allows them to retain control over their careers.

Policy recommendations

Based on these insights, the study proposes a UK‑specific definition of a Just Transition for oil and gas workers: access to secure, fulfilling jobs that align with workers’ experience and remuneration, offer stability, provide support to retrain where needed, and respect workers’ identities and choices.

The authors warn that without clearer definitions and targeted policy action, experienced offshore workers risk being lost from the energy sector altogether and risk undermining both social justice and the UK’s clean energy ambitions.

What does a just transition mean for UK oil and gas workers? Insights from a qualitative study was published by Energy Policy. The researchers were Dr Kirsty Denyer, Professor Yelena Kalyuzhnova and Dr Tatiana Rowson.