Number of green jobs in Scotland falls for forth consecutive year
Official figures suggest low emission businesses are making less money
The number of green jobs in Scotland has fallen again with businesses making less money, according to official figures.
Office for National Statistics data estimates that employment in the low carbon and renewable energy sector dropped from 21,400 full-time to 20,500 from 2019 - 2020.
It is the fourth consecutive year that job numbers have dropped.
Scottish business turnover in the low carbon and renewable energy economy was estimated to make up £5.5 billion of the £41.2 billion recorded across all the UK.
Turnover was down from £5.7 billion the year before, with the UK-wide figure down from £42.6 billion in 2019.
The ONS figures define the low carbon and renewable energy sector as businesses in industries such as offshore and onshore wind, low-emission vehicles and carbon capture.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said:
"We are fully committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2045 and transforming Scotland into a fairer, greener and more prosperous country.
"That is why we have committed £2 billion in low carbon funding to invest in new measures to end Scotland's contribution to climate change and create green jobs.
"Creating, supporting and monitoring green jobs through initiatives like the Just Transition Fund for the north east and Moray and the Green Jobs Fund will be vital in helping Scotland to secure a truly just transition to net zero, with no person or region left behind."