Carbon Capture Careers: The Rise of a Fast-Growing Industry

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is moving rapidly from a niche climate technology to one of the fastest-growing areas of the global energy industry. As governments and businesses strengthen their net zero commitments, investment in carbon capture is accelerating, creating new carbon capture careers across engineering, construction, operations and environmental disciplines. As a result, demand for carbon capture jobs is expected to grow significantly over the coming decade.

The industries driving this growth include cement, steel, chemicals, refining and energy-from-waste, where emissions are difficult to eliminate through renewable energy or efficiency measures alone. 

Carbon capture offers a practical way to reduce these emissions while allowing essential industrial activity to continue. This technology is driving a variety of careers and roles. In this article, we'll look at the growth in the carbon capture industry, what skills will be most relevant, and the industries where the skills could come from.

Why Carbon Capture Careers Are Growing

The Energy Industries Council (EIC) has been tracking global carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects since 2018. In its 2025 report, the organisation identified 562 projects worldwide, representing an estimated $275 billion in investment. As these projects move from planning to construction and operation, demand for carbon engineering expertise and specialist carbon capture and storage jobs is expected to increase across multiple regions.

This expansion is taking place across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, supported by government incentives, carbon pricing and industrial strategy. In the UK, the Liverpool Bay CCS project alone is expected to create around 2,000 construction jobs while unlocking approximately £2 billion in supply-chain investment.

As projects progress through design, construction and operation, organisations will require engineers, geoscientists, project managers, technicians, environmental specialists and skilled tradespeople. Whether you're exploring carbon capture careers or specialist CCUS jobs, the sector is creating long-term opportunities at the heart of the global energy transition.

Carbon Capture Careers in Demand

As carbon capture projects move from planning into construction and operation, demand is growing for professionals across a broad range of engineering, technical and commercial disciplines. From carbon engineering and project delivery to environmental compliance and operations, carbon capture careers are expanding across every stage of the project lifecycle. These include:

Process Engineers

Process engineers are central to the successful delivery of carbon capture projects. They design and optimise capture technologies, improve process efficiency and ensure carbon capture systems integrate effectively with existing industrial operations. As projects move from design into execution, demand for experienced process engineers continues to increase, making this one of the most sought-after carbon capture jobs.

Project Managers

Large-scale CCUS developments involve multiple stakeholders, complex regulatory requirements and extensive infrastructure delivery. Project managers with experience leading major energy or industrial projects are therefore in high demand. Many employers are seeking professionals with backgrounds in oil and gas, infrastructure, utilities and industrial developments who can successfully deliver complex CCUS projects.  

Pipeline and Transport Specialists

Transporting captured carbon safely and efficiently requires specialist expertise in pipeline infrastructure and CO₂ transportation systems. As regional carbon capture hubs continue to expand, demand is growing for:

• Pipeline Engineers
• Integrity Engineers
• Transportation Specialists
• Construction Managers
• Operations Professionals

These roles are becoming increasingly important as investment in carbon capture and storage infrastructure accelerates.

Commercial and Regulatory Professionals

Carbon capture projects operate within rapidly evolving regulatory and commercial frameworks. As a result, organisations are recruiting professionals with expertise in:

• Carbon accounting
• Regulatory compliance
• Environmental permitting
• Commercial strategy
• Stakeholder engagement

As governments introduce new incentives, reporting requirements and funding mechanisms, these skills are becoming increasingly valuable across carbon capture and storage jobs.

Construction and Commissioning Teams

As more projects enter execution, demand is increasing for professionals who can oversee construction, commissioning and operational readiness. This includes:

• Construction Managers
• Commissioning Engineers
• Quality Specialists
• HSE Professionals
• Operations Readiness Teams

Many of these professionals are already in high demand across the wider energy industry, creating strong opportunities for experienced engineers and technical specialists looking to move into carbon capture careers and CCUS jobs.

How Existing Engineering Skills Transfer into Carbon Capture

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is a developing industry, but much of the engineering expertise it requires already exists across the wider energy and industrial sectors. This creates a major opportunity to attract experienced professionals from adjacent industries, rather than relying solely on newly trained talent. 

Engineering and construction skills developed across oil and gas, LNG, power generation, petrochemicals, renewables and major infrastructure projects are highly transferable to carbon capture. This creates opportunities for experienced professionals to move into carbon capture careers and supports employers looking to recruit from adjacent sectors.

Oil and Gas

Professionals bring valuable experience in process engineering, subsea and pipeline systems, drilling, reservoir management, geoscience, offshore operations and high-risk project delivery. These capabilities are directly relevant to CO₂ transport, geological storage, well integrity and monitoring.

LNG

They offer expertise in gas processing, cryogenic systems, compression, liquefaction, storage and complex logistics. This knowledge can support the handling, conditioning and transportation of CO₂, particularly where projects involve low temperatures and high-pressure systems.

Petrochemicals and Chemicals

Engineers can transfer their knowledge of separation processes, solvents, catalysts, corrosion control, process optimisation and hazard management. These skills are central to designing and improving capture technologies, including solvent-based systems.

Power Generation

Professionals understand large-scale plant operations, heat integration, emissions control, maintenance and grid-related requirements. Their experience is especially relevant to retrofitting capture equipment onto existing industrial facilities. 

Renewables

Clean energy specialists contribute expertise in electrical systems, automation, digital monitoring, grid integration and project development. These capabilities will be increasingly important as CCUS facilities connect with renewable power and wider low-carbon infrastructure.

Across all of these sectors, transferable strengths include health and safety, project management, quality assurance, data analysis and stakeholder coordination. Targeted upskilling in CO₂ chemistry, capture technologies, regulation and measurement, reporting and verification can help experienced engineers transition into carbon capture careers, carbon capture jobs and wider CCUS jobs as demand continues to grow.

The Skills Employers Are Looking For

As carbon capture projects move from concept to construction and operation, employers are looking for professionals who combine strong engineering expertise with the ability to deliver complex projects safely, efficiently and in compliance with evolving regulation. Whether recruiting for carbon capture jobs or wider carbon engineering roles, organisations increasingly value candidates who can apply transferable skills across multidisciplinary project teams.

Process Engineering

Process engineering remains fundamental to the successful delivery of carbon capture projects. Employers look for experience in process design, heat and material balances, process simulation, equipment specification, optimisation and troubleshooting. Candidates with expertise in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, chemical reactions and industrial plant operations are well placed to support the design and optimisation of carbon capture systems.

CCUS Knowledge

Knowledge of carbon capture technologies is becoming increasingly valuable as the sector matures. This may include solvent-based capture, adsorption, membranes, oxyfuel processes, CO₂ compression, transportation and storage. While direct CCUS experience is desirable, employers also recruit professionals from chemicals, petrochemicals, LNG, oil and gas and power generation who can demonstrate relevant technical expertise and transferable skills.

Project Management Experience

Strong project management skills remain essential for controlling schedules, budgets, procurement, contractors and stakeholder expectations. Experience in commissioning, start-up, operational readiness, systems testing and handover is particularly valuable as organisations seek professionals who can safely transition projects from design into operation.

Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE)

Health, safety and environmental performance remains a core requirement across CCUS projects. Employers value practical experience in process safety, permit-to-work systems, hazard identification, emergency response and safety leadership. Knowledge of environmental compliance, permitting, emissions monitoring and measurement, reporting and verification also helps organisations meet increasingly stringent regulatory and carbon reduction requirements.

Risk Management

Risk management is critical to projects involving new technology, high-pressure CO₂ systems and long-term geological storage. Employers therefore seek professionals who can identify technical and commercial risks, develop mitigation strategies and make evidence-based decisions throughout the project lifecycle.

Successful professionals also need strong communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills. Working effectively across engineering, environmental, commercial, regulatory and community stakeholders is becoming increasingly important as low-carbon infrastructure projects grow in scale and complexity.

Where Are Carbon Capture Careers Growing?

Carbon capture careers are growing at different rates around the world, influenced by investment levels, infrastructure maturity, government policy and the pace of project development. As carbon capture projects move into construction and operation, demand for engineers, project managers, environmental specialists and technical professionals is increasing across several key markets.

United Kingdom and North Sea

The UK and North Sea remain among the world's most active carbon capture markets. Projects such as the HyNet Industrial Cluster and Liverpool Bay CCS are creating demand for engineers, project managers and operations professionals. These developments also benefit from established offshore infrastructure and expertise, creating opportunities for professionals with oil and gas experience to transition into carbon capture jobs.

Europe

Norway's long-standing expertise in carbon storage has established it as a global leader in CCUS. Meanwhile, projects across the Netherlands and Denmark are attracting international specialists, making cross-border recruitment increasingly common and creating new opportunities for carbon capture careers across Europe.

North America

North America is experiencing rapid growth, particularly in the United States and Canada. Government funding and tax incentives are accelerating project development while increasing demand for professionals in process engineering, pipeline infrastructure, carbon transportation, project controls and construction management. As investment continues to grow, competition for experienced talent and specialist carbon capture and storage jobs is expected to intensify.

Asia-Pacific

Emerging projects across Australia, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia are creating new opportunities for engineers and technical specialists. While some markets are still developing, recruitment activity is expected to accelerate as investment in carbon capture infrastructure continues to expand, supporting long-term growth in carbon capture careers and CCUS jobs.

Finding Carbon Capture Careers with Orion

As carbon capture projects continue to expand globally, access to specialist talent has become a critical success factor.

At Orion Group, we have extensive experience supporting recruitment across both traditional and emerging energy sectors. Our expertise spans:

• Carbon capture recruitment
• Oil and gas recruitment
• Renewable energy recruitment
• Infrastructure recruitment
• Engineering recruitment

By supporting projects such as Liverpool Bay CCS, having access to a wide talent pool and understanding the complexities of project delivery, we recognise the crossover between these sectors and the transferable skills needed to deliver successful projects.

If you're looking to explore carbon capture careers or other opportunities across the energy sector, take a look at our latest vacancies or speak to one of our specialist recruiters here.

For employers, effective carbon capture recruitment will be essential to maintaining project momentum and achieving your long-term decarbonisation goals. Please contact us to discuss your requirements. 

FAQs About Carbon Capture Careers

Which engineering disciplines are most in demand across carbon capture projects?

Process, mechanical, chemical and pipeline engineers, together with project managers, commissioning specialists and HSE professionals, are among the most sought-after disciplines across carbon capture projects. As projects progress from design into construction and operation, demand also continues to grow for geoscientists, environmental specialists and commercial professionals.

Can oil and gas engineers move into carbon capture?

Yes, oil and gas engineers are well positioned to transition into carbon capture careers because many of their technical skills are directly transferable. Experience in process engineering, subsea and pipeline systems, drilling, reservoir management, geoscience and major project delivery is highly relevant to carbon capture, utilisation and storage projects, making experienced professionals attractive candidates for carbon capture jobs.

Which specialist roles are supporting carbon capture and storage projects?

Carbon capture and storage jobs include process, mechanical and chemical engineers, reservoir and drilling engineers, geologists, pipeline specialists, project managers, commissioning engineers and HSE professionals. Organisations are also recruiting specialists in environmental permitting, carbon accounting, regulatory compliance and commercial strategy as carbon capture projects continue to expand globally.

Which countries are leading carbon capture development?

The UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United States and Canada are among the leading markets creating new CCUS jobs. Major projects such as HyNet and Liverpool Bay, together with expanding carbon capture hubs across North America and Europe, are driving demand for engineering, construction and operations professionals. Emerging markets across Australia, Japan and South Korea are also expected to create further opportunities as investment continues to increase.

Why are employers recruiting from oil and gas into carbon capture?

Many employers recruit experienced professionals from oil and gas because their expertise in process engineering, pipelines, reservoirs, project delivery and operations transfers directly into carbon capture projects. Recruiting from adjacent sectors enables organisations to access experienced talent more quickly while supporting the continued growth of carbon capture projects.