Latest OilCareers.com and Air Energi Global Workforce Survey Results Announced

While the global oil and gas industry is experiencing a resurgence of activity, both employers and employees face a plethora of challenges, according to a joint report from OilCareers.com, the international job board for the oil and gas industry, in association with partner Air Energi, a global provider of manpower solutions to the energy sector.

Focusing on employment and salary trends in the energy sector throughout 2012 the report, entitled ‘The Global Oil & Gas Workforce Survey: Expectations for hires and pay rates in the oil and gas industry H2 2012’, addresses the issues affecting the oil and gas industry and what they mean for the second half of 2012.

The survey, now one of the most eagerly anticipated temperature checks of global employers’ perceptions of the energy industry, found operators and contractors have a largely positive outlook about the numerous, major projects underway or planned worldwide. Yet the research highlighted much concern over access to those with the necessary skills, a shortage of specific disciplines and pressure caused by local content regulations.

More than 170,000 oil and gas professionals were invited to participate from over 50 countries within the seven major oil and gas producing regions.

Mark Guest, managing director of OilCareers.com, said: “Despite significant economic challenges facing the global energy industry, the survey signals a positive outlook for the sector with both mature and developing producing regions providing good reasons for continuing confidence and future optimism.

“Local content regulations – where foreign operators are required to prove they have made every effort to recruit from local sources and to use indigenous business channels – are however proving particularly challenging in a number of regions including Africa, the Americas and parts of Australasia.

“Internationally, operators are embarking on a large number of major investments, benefitting greatly from technological advancements. Yet major challenges remain with access to skilled labour a pivotal concern, combined with a global shortage of those with the necessary experience to help companies fully realise the potential of these opportunities.”

Ian Langley, group executive chairman for Air Energi, said: “The global flow of labour is a highly complex equation that has historically been answered through just-in-time solutions, largely dictated by the price of oil. Operators are taking a global approach to hiring practices, while proactively recruiting or reassigning talent as it becomes available.

“Many have stated the importance of looking to the young stream of professionals entering the industry, and the need to provide young graduates with internships and other opportunities. Field experience and a succession of short-term global assignments have also been observed as successful methods. Fast-tracking may help, but there are no shortcuts to hands-on experience.”

Click here to download the full Global Workforce Survey

OilCareers.com Shortlisted for the Asia Pacific Global Recruiter Awards

We’re thrilled to announce that OilCareers.com has reached the finals of The Global Recruiter Asia Pacific Recruitment Industry Awards for the Best Job Board category. The competition is fierce and this is great recognition of our team’s hard work and our on-going commitment to providing excellent customer service.

We look forward to the results being announced at the gala awards dinner on the 6^th September in the incredible Marina Bay complex in Singapore. The event will bring together the recruitment industry in and around Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and other Asia Pacific jurisdictions.

Click here for further information or to book tickets.

ATTRACTING FRESH TALENT IS KEY TO SCOTLAND’S AMBITIOUS OIL & GAS STRATEGY

Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond, revealed his oil and gas industry blueprint earlier this month, designed to ensure the country’s continued economic success. While welcomed industry-wide, it is ambitious and requires buy-in from across the sector in order to realise the goals set for 2020.

Young talent is integral to ensuring the energy sector’s future. There are real opportunities, both in Scotland, the UK, and globally. Oil and gas companies must do more to attract young people into the sector. Outside energy centres such as Aberdeen and the north east of England, school and university leavers are less aware of the opportunities within the oil and gas industry.

Although the focus is often on engineers, the industry provides a vast array of opportunities, from manual labour both offshore and onshore, to scientists working in labs and geoscientists modelling rock formations to locate the hydrocarbons. Thousands also work in clerical roles in accountancy, human resources, IT and other support functions.

The latest licensing round in the UK Continental Shelf brought the highest number of applications on record, which will hopefully see new fields brought online within the next few years or so. With production of those fields holding the potential to last for many years to come, there are excellent opportunities for school and university leavers starting to carve out a career in this vital industry.

The main problem is that the oil and gas industry is not always seen as attractive by the next generation, with a higher profile given to other energy sectors such as renewables and nuclear in the media. Many agree that enhancing the reputation of the industry is key to attracting new graduate recruits, along with those on professional programmes.

The mismatch between the skills required by the industry and the actual output from universities needs to be addressed urgently, with courses of greater relevance added to academic curriculums. If companies, schools and universities work together and invest more time raising awareness of the opportunities available, this will help to resolve future skills gaps.

With recognition at the highest level within government, and support from the likes of Scottish Enterprise, the challenge now is to maintain the 2012-2020 strategy, with a push to find the 12 to 20 somethings with the potential to come in and drive the industry forward.

Sir Robert Smith Unveils New Global Head-Quarters

We were delighted to welcome Sir Robert Smith, Liberal Democrat MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, to officially open our state-of-the-art new head-quarters located in the centre of “Surf City” in Westhill. This exciting move represents a significant six figure investment for OilCareers.com.

Mark Guest, managing director of OilCareers.com, said: “The energy industry remains an exciting, innovative and vibrant sector, offering unrivalled opportunities to a diverse range of jobseekers throughout the world. Our company has continued to grow and now has more than one million registered users, with in excess of 750,000 unique visitors every month. Our global reach means we are best-placed to match jobseekers with the right role.”

“In order to meet both the demands and the expectations of our clients and to accommodate our growing workforce, we took the decision to move to new offices, helping ensure we continue to be recognised as the market leader in online recruitment within the oil and gas industry.”

Since its launch in 1999, OilCareers.com has rapidly grown to become the world’s largest online oil and gas recruitment service, providing jobseekers with an easy and effective way of searching for a new job or career across all specialisms within the international energy industry. Each year, we invest more than £1m in marketing to help our customers attract the widest possible talent pool of oil and gas candidates globally.

The past three years have been something of a rollercoaster for the energy sector – not just in terms of fluctuating oil and gas prices, but also with regard to hiring trends.

Improvements are however being seen across the industry. At the start of the year, OilCareers.com – a clear barometer of industry hiring trends – experienced a record breaking one million visits in a month, a first since its launch 10 years ago. New figures show that vacancies posted in the first six months of 2011 were 50 per cent higher than for the same period in 2010, while the number of applications made in June 2011 was 60 per cent higher than in June 2010.

Continue reading “OilCareers.com urges oil & gas sector to tackle the skills shortage issue” »

Despite global uncertainty, worldwide demand for oil and gas jobs remains

International jobsite for the oil and gas industry, OilCareers.com, expects that in light of recent developments in Libya it will not be long before confidence returns to the region and it starts producing once again.

Continue reading “OilCareers.com expects confidence to return to Libyan jobs market” »

Oil & gas recruitment event hosts a thousand job seekers

Close to 1,000 job seekers were present at the first ever Energy Recruitment Live Event, which took place on Monday in Dubai. Industry giants including Saudi Aramco, Topaz, GASCO and PDO were participating, making their teams available to speak with potential candidates.

Continue reading “Young talent shows enthusiasm for the energy sector” »

Jobsite statistics show dramatic decline amidst political instability

International jobsite for the oil and gas industry, OilCareers.com, has expressed its concern for the Libyan market as it records a drastic decline in visits from the country. In April 2010, 4,149 visits were recorded, however in April of this year there were only 13.

Continue reading “OilCareers.com fears for the oil industry in Libya” »

Energy Recruitment Live makes debut in Dubai

The UAE’s very first recruitment event specifically designed for the oil and gas industry will open its doors next week. Energy Recruitment Live will bring together some of the most influential companies in global energy, including Saudi Aramco, PDO and Topaz, providing a unique forum for job seekers.

Continue reading “Fuelling the energy industry of tomorrow” »

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.

Continue reading “OilCareers.com meets BBC News to talk about hiring and salary trends for 2011” »