Workforce Insight 2020

WORKFORCE INSIGHT 2020

Age

Figure 13: Offshore Workforce by Age Groups

Age Range 18-29 Per cent 30-44 Per cent 45-59 Per cent 60+ Per cent 2010 9,213 18.4% 20,594 41.2% 17,258 34.5% 2,894 5.8% 2012 11,060 19.4% 23,545 41.3% 18,850 33.1% 3,527 6.2% 2014 12,836 20.0% 26,937 42.0% 20,184 31.5% 4,156 6.5% 2016 6,743 12.9% 23,016 43.9% 18,499 35.3% 4,227 8.1% 2017 6,801 13.8% 21,923 44.4% 17,333 35.1% 3,272 6.6% 2018 6,232 12.7% 21,811 44.4% 17,585 35.8% 3,449 7.0% 2019 5,191 10.5% 22,220 45.1% 17,782 36.1% 4,075 8.3%

For a number of years, this report has tracked the age profile of the offshore workforce and the data has discounted the often-made assertion that the offshore workforce is an ageing one. The age profile graph (Figure 14) shows a normal distribution with a higher number at the lower end, particularly circa 25–40. Last year’s report showed the highest average age since reporting began, but was still only 42.5, up less than two years of age since 2014. Data from 2019 show the average age of all offshore travellers to be 43.2. What the data do show, however, is that the 18–29 cohort has seen the largest decline since the last downturn began in 2015. The proportion of the total offshore workforce in this range has almost halved, while other age ranges have increased slightly. This does not mean that young people are not attracted to or joining the industry but reflects the stabilisation in workforce numbers following a period of exceptional investment during which those in the industry have grown older. The number of applicants to the OGTAP scheme shows that, despite ongoing challenges, the industry continues to attract new entrants, with almost 800 applications received earlier this year. If we look at the core offshore workforce, the difference is less dramatic, though again the 18–29 group showed a reduction between 2018–19 of one-fifth, from 2,287 to 1,826. Other ranges were stable and the over-60 age group increased by 339 people, equivalent to 1.5 percentage points.

Figure 14: Age Profile of the Offshore Workforce

2,500

2019 2018 2014 2010

2,000

1,500

1,000

Number of Personnel

500

0

18 23 28 33 38 43 48 53 58 63 68 73 78

Source:VantagePOB

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