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Most environmental professionals saw their real earnings stagnate or fall during the past year. David Carr analyses the results of the IEMA-ENDS survey of more than 2,000 environmental professionals

That the UK labour market took a turn for the worse in 2009 is beyond dispute. Amid a deep recession that is only now ending, unemployment approached 2.5 million, aggregate employment dipped and vacancies in many sectors simply dried up.

But while recession has scarred much of the economy, the scale of job losses has been partially mitigated by short-time working, pay cuts, wage restraint or pay review deferrals. Labour market flexibility has also helped and fears that unemployment would soar above 3 million have diminished. It was a level exceeded after each of the early 1980s and early 1990s recessions, but unemployment is expected to peak at ‘only’ 2.8 million this year.

Green jobs have not escaped the wider carnage. Growth has continued in some sectors, but others have been hard hit, particularly those linked to construction and development. Environmental consultancies also came under pressure last year, with many forced to lay off staff or introduce flexible working patterns to stay afloat

Read the full results of the survery on the Ends Directory http://www.endsdirectory.com/index.cfm?action=articles.view&articleID=201001