RECRUITMENT and training companies are moving to take advantage of the skills shortage in the oil and gas sector, with a new training scheme from local company Navitas and the establishment of a Perth office by the sector’s largest jobs site among the initiatives.
Oilcareers.com global managing director Mark Guest is one of many people visiting Perth this week for the Australian Oil & Gas Exhibition, which has attracted about 450 exhibitors from 16 countries and is expecting 11,000 visitors.
Mr Guest said the decision to establish a Perth office was driven by the booming local industry and the opportunity to become involved in the significant stream of oil and gas projects underway.
“Growth forecasts for the Australian economy suggest there will be significant demand for labour in the oil and gas industry that will not be able to be met with forecast natural population growth, particularly in Western Australia,” he said.
The company said job postings located in Australia had risen by 58 per cent between 2010 and 2011, with 66 per cent of those based in WA.
It plans to offer overseas talent while also investing in candidate sourcing within Australia.
Oilcareers.com is entering a packed market and will face stiff competition from the likes of resourceschannel.com.au and rigzone.com, which recently merged with worldwideworker.com.
The shortage of skilled engineers has prompted Navitas to set up an initiative focused on helping international graduate engineers coming to Australia to seek work get up to speed on Australian work practices, communication and best practice.
The Engineering Experience Program aims to provide visa holders with the chance to transition into the Australian workforce through internships and industry consultation.
The first program cohort includes participants from China, Iraq, Pakistan, Columbia, India, the Philippines and the UK.
There is a high level of industry support for this initiative, making it one of the best ways for international graduates to network with potential employers and secure ongoing employment,” Navitas Workforce Solutions general manager Catherine Chaffey said.
The program has been set up in partnership with Engineering Education Australia, a subsidiary of peak body Engineers Australia.
Engineers Australia programs manager Angela Rhodes-Flume said the program would provide a boost to the engineering industry at a time when skills shortages are having a negative effect on business outlook.
“With such a shortage of work ready engineers we are delighted to be working with Navitas to deliver a program that helps more qualified engineers secure employment and more companies find the skills they require,” she said.
An indicator of the pressures facing the sector is a recruitment program launched by energy giant Chevron, which is looking to hire hundreds of facility engineers across a range of areas, including subsea, structural and civil.
Chevron plans to hold 14 recruitment information sessions throughout Australia in a push to attract skilled workers to its Gorgon and Wheatstone gas projects.
Another indicator is the Oil and Gas Global Salary Guide 2012, which found that skills shortages were a significant challenge for the industry in Australia.
Managing director of Hays Oil and Gas, which co-produced the guide, Matt Underhill said the shortage was worrying.
“In this year’s survey we saw skills shortages rise to be the number one concern in the industry,” he said.
“This is no surprise to those in Australia who have been battling the trend for the last two years.”
Mr Underhill said the labour shortage had the ability to severely weaken market prospects.
“While the increased money on offer is sure to attract the additional skills required, it has the potential to play havoc with many a project’s rate of return and completion time lines,” he said.
