What can Oil & Gas companies do to retain talent during the energy transition?

Source: Pexels/Johannes Plenio

The energy industry is undergoing a major transition, with an increasing focus on Renewable energy sources. This shift presents a number of challenges for traditional Oil & Gas companies. 

One of the biggest challenges is competition for talent - and specifically retaining the members of staff who can play an instrumental role in this transition, but may also be tempted away by job offers from fast-growing Renewables firms.

In this year's Global Energy Talent Index (GETI) report, we found that more than half (54%) of Oil & Gas workers are considering moving to the Renewables sector, citing climate change concerns as the main reason behind this desire. 

Hiring managers need to be aware of this trend and take steps to address the concerns of their employees. By doing so, they can retain talented workers and ensure a successful energy transition.

There are a number of things Oil & Gas companies can do to address climate change concerns and retain talent. Read on to find out what they are.

Make sustainability a core value

When climate change is placed at the heart of a company’s values, it shows employees that their concerns are taken seriously. This can help engage and motivate workers who want to make a difference. 

To do this, set meaningful goals that resonate with your workforce. According to the GETI report, 85% of workers say that ESG concerns are now a factor in whether to join or leave a company. Organisations must therefore create a specific ESG strategy, complete with goals and buy-in from stakeholders. 

Only 42% of Oil & Gas workers said that their company has pivoted to clean energy so far, but of those, 82% feel positive about it. This means that there is everything to gain in having a plan that will play a key role in preventing employees from moving towards other companies. 

Increase communication about climate change goals

It’s important that Oil & Gas companies are clear about their plans to tackle climate change. Employees want to know what their company is doing to address the issue and how they can help meet these goals.

How to communicate you climate change goals with your employees

Here are some ideas about how you can communicate your climate change goals with your staff:

• Encourage employees to talk about your organisation's climate change and energy transition goals, and suggest any changes they would like to see. 
  
  
• Create forums or discussion groups where workers can share ideas and ask questions about your organisation’s plans.
  
  
• Make it easy for employees to reduce their own carbon footprints at work. This could involve providing energy-efficient equipment or offering incentives for using public transport or car-sharing.
  
  
• Encourage employees to get involved in energy efficiency and Renewable energy projects at work. This could involve anything from energy audits to solar panel installations.
  
  
• Make sure your managers are trained to have conversations about climate change with their teams. This will help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal.

By taking these steps, Oil & Gas companies can show their employees that they are serious about tackling climate change and making the energy transition. This will help to retain staff and attract new talent to your company. 

Encourage employees to get involved in sustainability initiatives 

Source: Pexels/Sam Forson

There are a number of things employees can do to help your company build a more sustainable future. Making these methods known to your workers and encouraging them to get involved will help show that you’re committed to taking action on climate change.

There are a number of ways you can do this, including: 

• Promote energy conservation practices within the company, such as carpooling where possible
  
  
• Set up recycling programs for waste and used equipment
  
  
• Invest in projects and programs that offset carbon emissions by tapping into natural carbon sinks such as plants, oceans, soil and forests. This helps to remove GHGs from the atmosphere, reducing their concentration in the air
  
  
• Support employee involvement in local environmental initiatives, such as tree planting days

Encourage career progression in line with your company's energy transition

The GETI report revealed that career progression is one of the biggest drivers in motivating employees to switch to a new sector. Energy workers are looking for companies where they can see a future for themselves, so it’s important to show that there will be opportunities for growth as your company transitions. 

How to encourage career progression for Oil & Gas employees:

Here are some ideas for how you can help your employees to progress in their careers within your organisation: 

• Introduce job shadowing and mentoring programs
• Promote energy literacy initiatives 
• Encourage cross-functional team collaboration
• Support employee energy transition training

Prioritise energy transition training

With career development playing such a crucial role in employee retention, consider providing energy transition training for your staff. This will help ensure that they have the skills they need to progress in their career as the energy landscape continues to change. 

It’s important to develop skills for employees at all qualification levels. Upskilling your Oil & Gas staff could open doorways for them to progress into new roles within your organisation as the energy transition continues. 

Learn more about Oil & Gas recruitment trends in 2022

Would you like to know more about the trends expected to shape the Oil & Gas sector in 2022? You can get all the insights you need, plus information on trends across the rest of the energy industry, in the 2022 GETI report. Download it for free today.