Skills shortages in the oil and gas sector mean that the industry’s biggest firms are looking to recruit full-time employees, but demand for specialist contractors is still strong.
The latest Hays Oil & Gas Global Quarterly Report reveals that many companies have put in place a strategy which aims to improve staff retention because skilled worker poaching has become rife.
However, they are also still calling on the services of contractors because the industry is booming at present.
Indeed, the highest number of applications for North Sea drilling licences since 1964 has been seen during the past 12 months, resulting in a rising demand for contractors skilled in geoscience and engineering.
Hay also said that because the UK is the main support base for exploration and production across the globe demand for contractors further down the supply chain will also remain high.
David Ripley, Oil & Gas UK’s supply chain director, recently cited changes to taxation as a key reason why the sector is so buoyant at present.
