Thousands of Derbyshire jobs could benefit from shift to a greener economy

But tens of thousands of other roles would be at risk, with workers needing new skills and training.

The study – published by council leaders’ group UK100 – is calling for a ‘green new deal’ to drive the recovery from the Covid-19 crisis while creating a zero-carbon society by 2050.

An estimated 37,476 jobs would be generated or would be readily adaptable to more sustainable industries in Derbyshire, according to the analysis.

Such jobs would come to make up 13 per cent of the local landscape in a green revolution.

The findings – based on figures compiled by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment – also suggest how people in various sectors might have to retrain.

This could include a car mechanic learning to repair electric vehicles, roofers becoming solar panel installers, or oil and gas technicians transferring to offshore wind farms.

In Derbyshire, 33,681 such roles would be affected– fewer than the number that would be created or would see a boost, meaning the area would see a positive impact overall.

Across Great Britain, around 3.1 million – roughly one in ten – jobs will require retraining, while nearly the same number could be created or would become desirable to employers based on existing skills.

Polly Billington, director of UK100, said: “We need to ensure this is not a car or carbon-led recovery.

“There is a huge opportunity here to skill up our workforce and invest in the jobs we need right now.

“A new deal for green skills and growth will kick start the recovery, ensure we are internationally competitive and put us on a path to a cleaner, greener economy, so we can meet the net-zero target.”

According to the research, 8,465 jobs in manufacturing, 4,736 jobs in construction and 4,224 jobs in transport and storage will require re-training in ​Derbyshire under a shift to a greener way of working.

But was also some significant overlap in the areas flagged as standing to benefit the most in terms of high demand and new roles with 16,236 jobs in manufacturing, 4,816 jobs in construction and 3,152 jobs in business administration and support services being created.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently set out plans to fuel the economic recovery as the country begins to emerge from the pandemic, including a promise to ‘build back greener’.

But UK100 said the Government had committed five times as much public money for roadbuilding over the next five years than for buses, cycling and walking – £27 billion compared to just £5 billion.

A Treasury spokesman said: “Throughout this crisis, we’ve continued to take our environmental responsibilities seriously and remain committed to meeting our climate change and wider environmental targets, including our commitment to net zero by 2050.

“As we take action to rebuild our economy we will aim to drive clean, sustainable and inclusive growth across all regions of the UK.”