UKCS Offshore Workforce Demographics Report 2013

UKCS OFFSHORE WORKFORCE DEMOGRAPHICS REPORT 2013

9. Skills Activity Update As the report shows, the drop in personnel in the age range 35 to 49 in 2011 has reversed and the numbers in that age range increased in 2012, though by smaller numbers than all other age groups apart from those under 23 and over 65. This mid-career gap is replicated in a number of onshore roles, including design engineering, subsea and drilling engineering, and geosciences. Though this is partly due to cutbacks implemented when the oil price has fallen substantially in the past, it is also very much a consequence of our success as an industry. The skills, expertise and technology developed on the UKCS are highly sought after by other oil and gas provinces around the world; competition for skills is truly global. The shortage in skilled personnel is cited as one of the biggest challenges for the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry. During the past year, Oil & Gas UK has been working with industry to identify where, and to what extent, collaboration can help alleviate this issue. A number of areas for activity have been identified, including: • Establishing a high level industry relationship with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) – 18,000 to 20,000 men and women will leave the armed forces in each of the next three years and many of those will have transferable skills. OPITO is working with the MoD to map and identify skills in industry and military roles. • Developing discipline work groups to explore the feasibility of transition training/accelerated development. • Creating smarter training solutions – for example, through possible development of facilities that could be used as an assessment/proving centre for skilled workers from other industries and to reduce the offshore training time required for trainees. A feasibility study is underway for this initiative. • Lobbying the UK Government on immigration policy to facilitate recruitment of skilled personnel from non-EU countries. • Education – pooling resources and effort under the auspices of OPITO so the industry can reach more schools throughout the UK, more often, and with a consistent message about the importance of and opportunities afforded by studying STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). Though the sector has no difficulties in attracting new trainee entrants to the industry, it is important for the long term to sustain a pipeline of school leavers and graduates with STEM qualifications, not just for the long-term success of the industry but for UK plc. With record levels of investment and high levels of activity on the UKCS, the challenge of increasing the supply of skilled personnel in the industry will not be resolved in the immediate future. However, a sound understanding of our labour market and future demands for skills – both on and offshore – are essential to understanding that challenge and developing additional solutions.

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