UK datacentre job projections face scrutiny amid energy concerns

New research from the environmental thinktank Verdant suggests that planned datacentres in the United Kingdom will create significantly fewer jobs than previously projected by the technology industry. While the industry group TechUK has estimated that the sector could support more than 40,000 additional jobs by 2035, Verdant’s analysis of 20 specific projects estimates that currently planned facilities will directly employ approximately 10,400 workers.

The study highlights a discrepancy in labor intensity relative to energy use. Existing UK datacentres currently employ fewer than 4,400 people, averaging roughly 8.6 jobs per megawatt of energy capacity. In contrast, Verdant models suggest that future, larger-scale facilities may be even less labor-intensive, potentially creating as few as 1.6 permanent jobs per megawatt.

While the UK government and industry advocates emphasize datacentres as vital for artificial intelligence, national security, and economic growth, critics argue the economic justification is thin given the high demand for electricity and infrastructure. The research focuses on permanent operational and maintenance roles, excluding temporary construction employment.