As a follow up to the recent release of OilCareers.com and AirEnergi’s global oil and gas workforce survey, managing director Mark Guest met with BBC News reporter Steven Duff to speak about the hiring and salary trends expected by the energy sector for 2011.

While Aberdeen’s oil and gas industry has experienced its own recession over the last couple of years, Mark commented on investment in the industry being on the up, with hiring set to increase across 2011 as a result. The survey reports that recruitment is expected to increase by 62 per cent, with 27 per cent of the industry expecting an increase in salary. OilCareers.com has already seen job postings to the site rise to 10,000 – back to the levels achieved in 2008 – evidence of increased confidence and investment in the industry.

Mark observed that there is the expectation for around £8 billion to be spent in the UK Continental Shelf this year – in comparison to £5 billion in 2009, noting that Oil & Gas UK have predicted around 15,000 new jobs in the UK this year alone.

There has been a pick up in project activity worldwide, which will keep design firms in both Aberdeen and London busy across 2011, while North Sea exploration and development has undergone a complete revival, with billions in E&P investments pledged for the coming year.

The BBC also asked Mark about the benefits the oil and gas industry brings to the North East economy and how they have helped Aberdeen withstand the economic downturn slightly better than other places in the UK.