The Highlands and Islands are entering a period of significant economic opportunity. More than £100 billion of investment is forecast over the next 10 to 15 years, with growth spanning renewable energy, infrastructure, engineering and advanced manufacturing.
As investment accelerates, a critical question remains: can the region develop and attract the workforce needed to deliver it?
Workforce North, a multi-partner initiative, has been established to support that challenge – bringing together industry, public sector and education partners to create a coordinated, long-term approach to workforce development across the region.
A shared challenge for business
Demand for labour in the Highlands and Islands is set to grow significantly, with up to 16,000 jobs per year expected across key sectors. Alongside new roles, employers are also facing demand for replacement and skills transition roles.
For businesses, the challenge is clear: ensuring access to a workforce with the right skills, mindset and adaptability.
As Portfolio Director, RSE, John Pocock, explains: “Our role is not just to attract talent, but to create an environment where people can thrive and develop their skills in the region.
“Our growing need for talent isn’t just about numbers. We are focused on building a curious and highly competent workforce now and for the future.”
This reflects a wider shift across industry, where workforce development is about long-term capability building.
Co-ordinating a regional response
Workforce North brings together partners including Skills Development Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Funding Council, the University of the Highlands and Islands, local authorities and industry bodies.
The aim is to provide a more joined-up approach to workforce planning – connecting employers to talent while supporting individuals into employment, apprenticeships and training.
This coordinated approach is particularly important given the scale and pace of investment, especially within renewables and infrastructure.
Apprenticeship Programme Manager, RSE, Mike Campbell, said:
“The Highlands is entering a period of significant investment in infrastructure, renewable energy, water and manufacturing projects, creating a growing demand for skilled people across engineering and construction.
“For young people, this presents a fantastic opportunity to build a rewarding career through apprenticeships, further education or graduate pathways, while helping to deliver the sustainable future our region needs.”
Renewables driving demand
Renewable energy continues to be a key driver of growth across the Highlands and Islands, with large-scale projects creating sustained demand for technical and engineering skills.
However, this growth also brings immediate workforce challenges.
Operations Director, Proterra Energy, Terry Stebbings, notes: “With the growth of larger scale renewable energy projects in Scotland, and the Highlands in particular, there is a shortage of skills in the area to deliver.
“There are therefore opportunities for those that wish to train in technical and engineering related subjects, and an upcoming jobs market that will provide a future for young people who take this opportunity.”
Similarly, Marketing Manager, AES Renewables, Hannah Jakobsen emphasises the link between investment and workforce development.
She said: “As investment in renewable energy grows across the Highlands, so does the need for skilled people. Creating opportunities for young people now helps build a workforce that can support local communities for years.”
These insights highlight both opportunity and the need for sustained investment in skills.
Opportunities across sectors
While renewables are a primary growth driver, workforce demand spans a much broader range of industries – including construction, health and care, and hospitality.
Director, RI Cruden, Callum Cruden, highlights the importance of building local talent pipelines.
He said: “With development and investment growing across the North, the demand for a highly skilled, dedicated local workforce has never been more critical. Building a sustainable, local employment pipeline is essential to keeping talent directly within the region.”
In health and care, the challenge is equally clear. Employability Lead, NHS Highland, Megan Glass, explains: “There is a growing need for talent across health and care, and we know that the workforce of the future starts with young people today.
“That’s why we’re focused on creating opportunities—through engagement with schools, placements, apprenticeships and pathways—so people can learn, grow and build a career right here in the Highlands.”
Hospitality and tourism play a significant role in employment across the Highlands and Islands, supporting jobs across many communities. Within the sector, employers also highlight the importance of early engagement to build future talent pipelines.
General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott Inverness Airport, Ina Davies, explains:
“Working closely with schools and colleges to nurture talent is essential to the continued success and growth of the hospitality industry.
“By inspiring young people, developing practical skills, and showcasing the wide range of rewarding career opportunities available, we can help secure the future of hospitality in the Highlands.”
Across sectors, these examples highlight the importance of structured pathways into employment.
From pathways to workforce
Developing a strong pipeline depends on clear, accessible pathways into employment.
Examples across the region show how employer-supported routes benefit both individuals and industry.
Apprenticeships and work-based learning can play enabling people to develop practical skills while contributing directly to business needs.
As investment accelerates, these pathways will support workforce supply – particularly in technical and growth sectors.
Supporting long-term growth
For the Highlands and Islands, workforce development is closely linked to long-term economic sustainability.
Population challenges, rural geography and sector-specific demand all create complexity for employers operating in the region.
Addressing these challenges requires aligning skills investment with employer demand and future growth.
Workforce North has been designed to support that ambition – bringing together partners to create a more strategic and collaborative response.
Looking ahead
As investment continues, projects across the Highlands and Islands will depend not only on infrastructure and funding – but on people.
Developing a skilled, adaptable and locally rooted workforce will be critical to ensuring that businesses can grow and communities can benefit from the opportunities ahead.
Workforce North provides an opportunity to engage in shaping that future – helping to build the talent pipelines that will support the region for years to come.
