Grangemouth workers find new jobs after refinery closure

Former Grangemouth refinery workers are finding a way back into work. A new update says 131 of the 272 former Petroineos employees supported by a retraining scheme have secured employment.

The figure comes from a ministerial letter to a Scottish Parliament committee, reported by the Press Association. Refining at the site ended in April 2025.

Forth Valley College runs the support with Skills Development Scotland and Unite. The Scottish Government’s account of the scheme explains how workers first assess their skills and career interests, then discuss options individually with college staff. That helps them choose training suited to the work they want to pursue, including wind turbine courses.

The new figures leave more than half of those supported without a reported job outcome. They do not tell us whether new roles match previous pay or offer lasting security.

There is more to resolve, but returning to work is a tangible step for 131 people whose established careers were disrupted by the closure.

Sources

• Press Association via Scotland Press — reported employment outcomes, 5 October
• Scottish Government — how the Grangemouth skills scheme works