Verdant, an environmental thinktank, has released an analysis concluding that datacentres currently planned in the UK are likely to directly employ about 10,400 people — roughly 25% of the more than 40,000 jobs projected by industry group TechUK. The report contrasts industry optimism about employment benefits with a much lower estimate of direct staffing needs at the facilities.
The discrepancy reflects differing assumptions about the scale and labour intensity of datacentre operations. TechUK, which represents companies in the technology sector, has previously cited employment figures exceeding 40,000 for the planned expansion of datacentre capacity. Verdant’s estimate covers direct roles within the facilities themselves and does not appear to align with the broader, higher numbers used by industry advocates.
Beyond jobs, Verdant’s analysis draws attention to the energy footprint of the planned developments. The thinktank says the expansion of datacentre capacity will involve consuming ‘‘vast amounts of energy,’’ raising questions about how the growth can be reconciled with the UK’s climate and energy goals. The report underscores concerns about where that power would come from and the implications for national energy demand.
The findings are likely to sharpen debate among policymakers, industry groups and environmental campaigners over the trade-offs between the economic benefits promised by datacentre construction and the environmental and energy costs. With both sides presenting sharply different figures, the analysis suggests a need for clearer, standardised metrics on employment impact and energy use for future planning and public discussion.
Verdant’s estimate relates to datacentres currently planned; it does not address wider indirect employment effects in supply chains or regional economies that industry proponents sometimes include in their totals. The contrasting figures from Verdant and TechUK are likely to inform ongoing discussions about planning, regulation and incentives as the UK accommodates growing digital infrastructure needs.