What motivates energy professionals to join a company?

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The Global Energy Talent Index (GETI) report provides insights into the year’s biggest employment trends for the energy industry. This year, in the sixth annual report, we can see that more than 75% of energy professionals are currently considering a career change within the next three years. 

But what is the motivation behind this? Read our blog to find out what makes energy employees keen to switch to another career, and steps you can take to attract new talent.

Career progression

Career progression was cited amongst GETI respondents as the top reason for wanting to move to another job.wi32% of those surveyed have said they would move within energy while37% of employees would move within their current sector.Another 30% of employees would move outside of the energy industry entirely for career progression opportunities.

In order to attract staff who are keen to progress in their careers, it is crucial that energy companies offer clear career progression paths and regular reviews with their employees. You should initiate programs that encourage your workforce to develop new skills, and promote a culture of lifelong learning in the working environment. 

It is also valuable to recognise and reward employees for their achievements on projects and allow these achievements to form the basis for promotions where possible. This will lead to a more satisfied and motivated workforce. 

Technology

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The GETI report found that, of those who would consider moving outside of energy, the majority (28%) would move into technology. 

Reasons why the technology industry is so attractive to energy employees could include the opportunity to work with cutting-edge equipment and technologies and the potential for more interesting and varied work. 

Consider investing in new technologies to keep your employees excited in their role. Offering your workforce the chance to work with newer technologies and training them on how to use them could keep them engaged and less inclined to move to a different industry. 

If your employees feel a bit stuck in a rut, it might be time to review your organisational structure and the way work is assigned. Encouraging employees to take on new challenges, learn new skills and work across different teams can help keep them engaged.

Interest in the wider industry

Another big motivator for employees interested in a career change was interest in other sectors within the energy sector, with 36% of employees citing it as a reason for switching jobs. 

A way to appeal to employees expressing an interest in the wider field is to provide opportunities for them to learn about and experience different aspects of the business. 

This could be done through job shadowing, cross-training, mentorship programs or even opportunities to work on special projects outside of their normal day-to-day responsibilities.

Another way is to keep employees informed about what's happening in the industry  and the company. This could be done through regular updates from senior leaders, industry news sources or even social media channels.

Finally, energy companies can create a culture of innovation and creativity that allows employees to experiment and try new things. This could be done through innovation labs or other initiatives that encourage out-of-the-box thinking. 

ESG considerations

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The second biggest reason employees cited for moving to another sector within the energy industry was environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations. 

ESG factors measure the societal and sustainability impact of an organisation. Energy companies have been increasingly focused on reducing their environmental footprint, but in recent years there has been a growing emphasis on the social and governance factors as well. 

As the energy transition gathers pace, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to have a strong ESG profile. This is not only to appeal to employees who are interested in working for socially responsible organisations, but also to attract investment from sustainability-focused funds. 

The GETI report revealed that, while most energy companies are making progress to better their environmental performance, there is room for improvement.

When asked to rank their current company’s performance on factors such as limiting energy use and conserving natural resources, the majority of professionals across all sectors gave a ranking of 3 out of 5.

There are a number of ways in which organisations can improve their ESG performance, including:

• Supporting climate change 
• Conserving natural resources 
• Maintaining a healthy supply chain
• Giving back to the community, e.g. through supporting and representing your workforce in terms of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Placing a stronger focus on health and safety 

Find out more about what motivates employees in the energy industry 

​​The 2022 GETI report contains the latest energy sector data and insights on the employment market. Download the report to find out more about the factors motivating energy professionals to make changes in their career.