Launch of 3rd Global Energy Talent Index Report (GETI)

GETI 2019: fresh thinking the key to averting energy skills crisis

• Forty-eight per cent of oil and gas professionals are concerned about an impending talent emergency
• Eighty-one per cent of sector professionals aged 25 and under remain enthusiastic about a career in oil and gas
• Two-thirds of non-hiring professionals anticipate further pay increases in 2019

LONDON, UK, 22 January 2019, The third annual Global Energy Talent Index (GETI), the world’s largest energy recruitment and employment trends report, is released today, showing that oil and gas businesses must continue evolving their approach to attracting and recruiting talent.

The report by Airswift, the global workforce solutions provider for the energy, process and infrastructure sectors, and Energy Jobline, the world’s leading jobsite for the energy and engineering industries, indicates that 48 per cent of oil and gas professionals are concerned about an impending talent emergency. In fact, 40 per cent of survey respondents believe the sector to already be in the grips of a crisis, with a further 28 per cent expecting one to hit within the next five years.

But there is reason for optimism. When asked whether they would pursue a career in the sector if they were entering the energy industry now, a large majority of oil and gas professionals said yes. Encouragingly, 81 per cent of those aged 25 and under remain enthusiastic about a career in oil and gas. While the pace of recruitment may have slowed during the downturn, it is clear that the quality of these efforts remains strong.

“In recent years, GETI has proven hugely successful at providing hiring managers with the insights they need to manage the expectations of the energy workforce. This year is no different, as we respond to what they told us was their biggest concern: the energy skills gap."

Janette Marx, Chief Executive Officer at Airswift

“And the oil and gas chapter makes for interesting reading. Having cut graduate schemes, apprenticeships and training during the downturn, the sector is playing catch-up. But it’s making good progress. And, most importantly, companies now realise that no matter what happens economically, they need to consistently invest in their talent strategies.”

In addition to providing much-needed insights into the skills gap, GETI is also the industry’s most comprehensive salary and mobility study. Key findings within oil and gas include:

• Remuneration is on the up. Forty-one per cent of non-hiring professionals report an increase in pay over the past 12 months, with 21 per cent citing a raise of more than 5 per cent
• Sixty-five per cent of non-hiring professionals anticipate further pay rises in 2019. Hiring managers share their optimism, with 63 per cent expecting to see an increase
• 92 per cent of professionals would consider relocating to another region for their job, with career progression opportunities the number one factor attracting talent to a region
• Renewables remains the biggest source of competition for talent, with 42 per cent of those open to switching sectors attracted to the industry

Hannah Peet, Managing Director at Energy Jobline, says: “Competition between sectors remains as fierce as ever, but oil and gas employers are well set to succeed.

“Leaders and hiring managers recognise that the world has changed and the desires of young people are different, with only 30 per cent of those aged under 25 believing that higher pay effectively attracts talent. The trick now is to respond by working to provide individuals with more opportunities to grow their careers, travel and work with new technologies.”

Airswift and Energy Jobline surveyed more than 17,000 energy professionals and hiring managers in 162 countries across five industry sub-sectors: oil and gas, renewables, power, nuclear and petrochemicals. The report is available to download at http://www.getireport.com/download-report.

About Airswift

Airswift is the global workforce services partner of choice for clients, contractors, and candidates in the global energy, process and infrastructure sectors. With 40 years’ experience, they provide scalable workforce solutions including consulting, global mobility, managed solutions and talent acquisition.

About Energy Jobline

Launched in 2012 Energy Jobline has expanded to become the leading jobsite in energy and engineering jobs worldwide. It provides the latest energy jobs, oil and gas jobs, renewable energy jobs, offshore jobs and power and nuclear jobs worldwide. Responsible for thousands of hires across the energy sectors each year, Energy Jobline is the job board of choice for over 400 energy employers.

Airswift and Energy Jobline’s collaboration on the Global Energy Talent Index won the 2017 Onrec Online Recruitment Award for Technical Innovation among specialist recruiters.