Offshore staff
ABERDEEN, UK – The UK’s offshore oil and gas sector must continue to recruit and retain new talent to achieve its long-term goals, according to Oil & Gas UK’s 2018 Workforce Report.
This forecasts an increase in direct, indirect, and induced employment across the sector this year to 282,700 personnel, up from 280,000 in 2016, when total employment supported by industry fell by 14%.
The association said efficiency improvements and technological transformation are being introduced, including new ways of working for the UK’s oil and gas sector, with a 20% increase in offshore workers under the age of 30.
Average age of offshore workers in 2017 was 42.2, compared with 42.7 in 2016, with women representing 3% of the offshore workforce, and 23% of the industry overall.
The largest growth of employment was the west of Shetland area, where the number of workers has more than doubled since 2014 due to several major development projects.
However, the continued pressure on drilling has led to a 35% decline in UK offshore drilling roles since 2014.
Report author and Oil & Gas UK Workforce Engagement and Skills Manager Dr. Alix Thom said: “The slight upturn forecast for 2018 suggests that the greatest period of rationalization is behind us.
“Industry must maintain its focus on efficiency whilst securing badly needed investment in the basin to stimulate fresh activity. This sustainable approach is key to maintaining the workforce profile needed to deliver our long ambitions for the basin…
“As our report notes, advancements in technology will inevitably spell new ways of working, for example, increased digitalization could see a rise in offshore work being done remotely. It will be vital for the industry to understand the existing and future skill profiles in the workforce and proactively develop the talent required.
“It sets the platform for recruiting and retaining the people needed to deliver Vision 2035–a new intake of highly skilled, adaptable and creative talent, with the diversity needed to maximize economic recovery and identify supply chain opportunities at home and abroad.”
08/24/2018
