About a third of the oil and gas industry's core workers are set
to retire in the next decade. That means thousands of new career
opportunities.
Trends
To get an idea of where the industry is going and why, we've put
together some of the highlights:
The industry is already experiencing chronic shortages for:
- Experienced engineers: exploitation,
completions, production, mining
- Plant operators, steam engineers and
power engineers
- Maintenance trades
- Production accountants
- Field operators/specialists:
slickline, snubbing, fraccing and completions, Class 1
drivers
- Rig crews (derrickhands in
particular)
- Environmental and regulatory
specialists.
If energy prices are high over the next decade, the industry
will grow fast, and will need to hire about 130,000 new workers. If
energy prices are low, the industry will still need 39,000 new
workers.
Companies have changed their focus from keeping costs low
through a downturn, to attracting and retaining workers.
New technologies such as fraccing and in-situ are changing the
industry and creating demand for jobs such as:
- Software
technologists/developers
- Geologists and engineers with
knowledge of shale gas and oil reservoirs and well stimulation and
completions
- Measurement while drilling (MWD)
specialists
- Fraccing operators
- Completions specialists
- Class 1 drivers/operators to get
equipment and materials to the well site
- Water and environmental management
technicians and specialists
- Logistics specialists
- Surface and subsurface
engineers
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd class steam
engineers
- Water management technicians and
specialists.
Serious shortages for specific occupations could hit the oil and
gas industry as early as 2011.
Even if the oil and gas industry goes through a period of slow
growth, it will still face a widespread labour shortage by 2014 due
to retirements.
Making the Most of Labour Shortages
If you want a job now or are looking to make an education or
career choice we can help you make the most of the opportunities in
the industry.
See our Hot
Jobs to find out which jobs are in demand.
See our Hot
Careers to find out which careers are in demand.
For More...
For more Labour Market Information about Canada's oil and gas
industry, visit Petroleum HR Council's website at www.petrohrsc.ca. There you
will find analysis and data about the current state of the
petroleum labour market and detailed projections about how it will
evolve in the coming years.