Report: automation and digitalisation pivotal to energy industry's future
The Global Energy Talent Index’s (GETI) second annual report shows an industry that is optimistic about new technology, shrugging off anxieties over job security, but struggling to appeal to younger talent.
Technology provides easier operations but also ‘softer’ benefits like flexible work times. Four in ten of respondents citing increased happiness over the past three years cited developments that were enabled by technology.
However, in the oil and gas industry those citing increased happiness were in the minority, with only a third of respondents reporting that they are happier than they were three years ago (22% of respondents said there was no change, and 45% said they were less happy). The report’s authors say that this is because of generally turbulent times and do not mention any specific grievances in their report. Attitudes in the petrochemical sector are far more evenly spread, with roughly a third of respondents reporting being happier, less happy and seeing no change in their attitude respectively.
When asked what the biggest workforce problems were, pay expectations (with 50% of respondents saying it was a problem), a skills gap (45%), an ageing workforce (39%) and the ability to retain existing talent (36%) were reported most often. These numbers are from professionals in the sector. Separate datasets mapping the attitudes of hiring managers and professionals in the petrochemicals industry mirror these priorities.
To attract younger individuals to the oil and gas industry, the report said that companies undertaking ‘cutting-edge’ projects tended to have more success and that these tended to be seen in the renewables sector. The report did not mention climate concerns as a reason.
The questionairre used for the survey was not available at time of writing.
The report was completed as a joint project by Airswift, a recruitment agency for the energy, process and infrastructure industries, and Energy Jobline, a jobsite for the energy and engineering industries. Data was compiled from a survey from over 20,000 energy professionals, covering 163 countries and five industries: oil and gas, renewables, power, nuclear and petrochemicals.
COO at Airswift Janette Marx said in a press release: “It’s good news for oil and gas businesses. The last few years have been tough on professionals, whose happiness has been waning, so it may surprise hiring managers that workers are optimistic about the role of digitalisation on the sector’s future. The key now is to harness this optimism and provide digitally-driven opportunities for professionals to work more safely, flexibly and efficiently.”
Hannah Peet, MD at Energy Jobline, said: “Competition for energy talent is fierce, both within sectors and between them. But this could be as much of an opportunity for oil and gas employers as it is a threat.
“Happiness is a major factor. The sector that can offer professionals the happiest working lives will win out. Oil and gas has long held an advantage when it comes to pay, and with the oil price back on the up, professionals expect that to continue. They must embrace digitalisation, setting themselves up nicely to retain talent and transfer knowledge and skills to the next generation.”
