Some 120,000 new recruits must be found for the energy industry in Aberdeen, a new report suggests.
According to PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC), the Scottish city is aiming to make itself the world’s energy capital by 2022, but to do so it must attract new people to the sector.
To put the scale of this recruitment drive into context, 120,000 new workers is around the size ofAberdeen’s entire current workforce.
Many people already work in the energy sector in the region, but there are concerns over longevity because the average employee’s age is 45.
PwC says that an Aberdeen Energy Academy must be created within the next two to three years.
Mark Higginson, senior partner at PwC in Aberdeen, said: "The supply of appropriately skilled labour continues to be the greatest threat to Aberdeen's ability to become a global energy centre of excellence.
"Since we first outlined our vision of an Energy Academy ten months ago, an initial feasibility study has taken place with the concept gaining broad support from industry, academics and the public sector.
"But it is essential that this momentum is not only maintained, but that stakeholders are galvanised into action if we are to create the foremost global brand for industry excellence."
He added that while Aberdeen may be seen by many as a cold place at the top of Scotland, it was recently voted as the happiest city in the whole of the UK and this fact needs to be sold to investors and potential talent so that relocation can be ramped up.
News of job creation in Scotland’s thriving energy sector will surely come as good news for limited company contractors experienced in the industry as it is likely to mean that more opportunities become available.
