Alberta’s oil sands in Canada are the fourth-largest oil reserves in the world after Iran, Saudia Arabia, and Venezuela. These reserves are equivalent to around 165.4 billion barrels of oil. Canada is a big player in the global energy sector, and their reserves show how critical it is to their economy. It is predicted that in 2022 oil and gas extraction and infrastructure could account for nearly 10% of Canadian GDP. In terms of employment the energy sector employs 178,500 Canadians, a significant proportion of the population.  

Alberta oil sands growth  

The global demand for energy, in particular oil, shows no signs of slowing down and - despite a continued focus on renewable energy sources - Canada’s Alberta oil sands achieved a record year growth-wise in 2021 for crude oil production.  

With oil and gas expected to be a key transitional energy source that plays a part in net carbon zero targets, Canadian oil sands producers forecast that we could be on track for another record-breaking year in terms of oil production and output.  

Oil and gas jobs in Canada  

Influential voices in the Canadian energy sector are saying that there is currently not enough skilled labour to meet the demand for oil and gas jobs in Alberta which could hinder real growth.  

One of these voices is the CEO of the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors, Mark Scholz. He states that "if Canada is not able to recruit and be able to build the expertise needed to grow our industry, we're not going to be able to, not only supply our domestic market with responsible energy products, but we're also not going to be able to support the growing energy demands and energy security issues that many of our key allies are looking for." 

Scholz believes the oil and gas job market in Alberta took a steep downturn during the 2014 recession when the price of oil plummeted, further supressed by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. With oil prices now being close to pre-pandemic levels, producers are expecting their productivity to face a similar increase with Alberta in particular expected to be heading for a ‘boom’. 

With increased demand and a boom in Canadian production, how are companies making oil field jobs more attractive? Scholz has heard that along with other sectors, people working within the energy sector want greater flexibility in their working life.  

His statement shows the extent of socioeconomic change in recent years: "We always found that the workforce was very interested in putting as many hours in as they could. Not so much today — we're seeing that the demographics are changing and there is an element of work-life balance that is very important to this new generation that's coming up and companies are responding to that."  

One such company is Chissell, who are a family-led company who cannot afford large bonuses some larger corporations offer but are instead offering flexible hours for their oil and gas jobs in Alberta. 

Helping you find the right role for you 

At Petroplan, we champion talent and specialise in recruiting permanent personnel and contractors for businesses across the energy and infrastructure sectors, including oil and gas, renewables, technology, mining, power, and nuclear.  

As a talent solutions agency, we have excellent knowledge of recruitment, and a team of experienced consultants who can provide the best advice and results. 

To find out how we can support you in the rapidly evolving climate, please contact our team today. 

Like many other industries, the oil and gas sector is looking to adopt digital technology to help improve efficiency and productivity, especially as digitisation is a key development that will contribute to the world moving towards net zero. In the UK,  it is believed that in meeting net zero by 2050, the country may still use a quarter of the gas that it uses now, so utilising digital technology and ensuring optimal production efficiency remains highly relevant.

At the same time, innovation, and the development of digital technologies during the transition period between changing energy production methods will be crucial in advancing low carbon solutions. Therefore, not only will the implementation of digital technology in the oil and gas industry strengthen the core business, but it could also help to develop sustainable energy production methods and support the push towards net zero. 

Increasing safety and efficiency with innovative technology 

A key reason for firms wanting to increase their efficiency, is to solidify their levels of stability in an unpredictable market. In fact, so many businesses are investing in oil and gas automation technology that Frost & Sullivan forecast the market to be worth $24.6 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.5%. This includes the implementation of big data analytics, which has played a large role in driving industry growth in recent times. 

New technology has allowed the oil and gas industry to become more data-driven and streamlined. Big data can help oil and gas companies gather real-time information, which can then be used to grasp new opportunities and ensure accuracy when searching for new hydrocarbon deposits. It can also be used to optimise exploration, drilling, and production by forecasting potential equipment failures and breakdowns – which will improve overall efficiency of whole projects. 

With the oil and gas industry featuring large, complex, and often dangerous operations, having the technology to navigate volatile working environments is key, especially in downstream projects. Some oil and gas facilities are in confined or hard-to-reach spaces, so robotic inspection devices minimise the risk to personnel. 

Robotic devices are proven to be effective in isolated areas, as well. In 2020, TotalEnergies deployed a surveillance robot at its gas plant in the Shetland Islands to accurately assess their robustness, endurance, and reliability in a difficult operating environment. These robots would “undertake rounds autonomously, detect anomalies, alert operators, monitor process parameters and generate 3D maps”. 

For dangerous jobs relating to midstream processes and gas leaks, future technologies such as drones are also being developed for surveillance and detection purposes, to both minimise human interaction with dangerous substances and help mitigate emissions. 

High profile collaborations 

Cross-industry collaborations between oil and gas and digital solutions companies is more prevalent than ever, with oil and gas companies investing more in key growth technologies such as cloud and AI. The Internet of Things (IoT) vendors are now competing for top oil and gas contracts by offering end-to-end solutions. For oil and gas businesses, a collaborative approach with external suppliers is seen as a more effective solution than in house development of advanced analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

Several high-profile partnerships have been made in the last couple of years, including Total Oil and Google Cloud, BP, and Azure, and Seeq and Saudi Aramco. A partnership between Malaysia’s Petronas and Waygate Technologies Robotics (WTR) has produced a robotic inspection device for the oil and gas industry that could be commercialised, and the technology in this project features a cleaning tool and additional ultrasonic and eddy inspection capabilities. 

How can Petroplan help you get involved with the digital transformation of the oil and gas industry? 

We are the champions of talent, and constantly stay up to date with the latest trends and changes in the oil and gas industry, and in this case, how digital technology is affecting the market. We have over 40 years’ experience in recruiting the best professionals into the energy sector, and we would have never achieved this without our agile approach and constantly adapting to change.  

With the oil and gas industry changing, and digital transformation driving the emergence of new roles and specialisms, we are on hand to find opportunities for skilled professionals who can make a real impact. Find out more about us and, if you’re interested in learning more about digital transformations in the industry, please contact us to find out how we can help you. 

There’s no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on all sectors globally, with job loss and furlough among the top consequences for employees. With many forced to work from home, the nature of work changed dramatically.

Recruitment was especially impacted by the pandemic, with the majority of businesses having to adjust their strategies throughout the crisis. With life now seemingly ‘normal’ again, we look at the recovery of the recruitment sector, and its future post-COVID.

The changing face of recruitment

Following the pandemic, recruitment and workplace trends have changed dramatically. Leaders are re-thinking their workforce and management style to keep pace with the large-scale shifts that are happening to businesses and the way people work.

One of the major changes in the world of recruitment is the rise of contingent and temporary workers. According to Staffing Industry, the number of temporary employees in the UK increased by 9.16 % on a seasonally adjusted basis to a total of around 1.71 million for the three months from October to December 2021, when compared to the same period the year before.

During lockdown periods, many organisations reduced their contractor budgets, but now there has clearly been a shift. Thanks to the rise of remote working, recruitment is no longer restricted to a location, which means recruiters have access to wider talent pools.

A new age of candidates

Before the onset of the pandemic, businesses were already recruiting in a highly competitive market and changes were on the horizon. Now, organisations are facing greater demands for benefits that focus on health and wellbeing, and flexible working. Recruiters will need to tailor their recruitment solutions to suit the needs of candidates in order to attract the same level of talent.

COVID-19 has to a large extent accelerated changes in consumer and employee behaviour, and there’s an increasing reliance on digital tools. According to McKinsey, 75% of European and North American executives that responded to a survey expect increased investment in new technologies until 2024.

Work-life balance is also another priority for today’s candidates, alongside long-term stability, which is more than likely a result of the uncertain financial situation caused by the pandemic.

What’s next for companies?

As businesses have started to recover and return to their offices, many professionals will be making changes in their careers and switching roles, enhancing the level of competition in the marketplace. The challenge for hiring managers lies in the ability to effectively sell the benefits of working for their company.

In the interview process, leaders should be differentiating themselves from other employers, focusing on areas such as culture and upward mobility. Now that millions of employees around the world have become accustomed to remote working, companies must offer flexible and hybrid working arrangements.

With 74% of current remote workers saying that having the option to work remotely would make them less likely to leave a company, the elevated importance of flexibility in the workplace is being continually reinforced.

Recovery and recruitment

So, how exactly can recruitment agencies adapt to the ever-changing market landscape? Firstly, recruiters need to regularly revisit and evaluate their recruitment strategy to assess their client organisation’s goals and make necessary adjustments based on market changes.

With the pandemic having paved the way for an even more transient workforce, today’s employees have a more varied approach to their careers. Recruitment agencies need to prioritise finding cultural fits and assure hiring managers that candidates who fit the culture will stay at the company long-term. M&A will be a priority as recruitment companies seek to protect their market positions in the face of ever-growing competition.

Recruiters will also need to be more consultative and showcase their expertise to attract the best candidates and focus on providing a seamless candidate experience by taking on board new digital technologies and processes.

Job roles continue to evolve, and leaders must make hiring the right talent a focal point of their strategy.

Helping your business to grow

At Petroplan we are the champions of talent and specialise in recruiting permanent personnel and contractors for businesses across the energy and infrastructure sectors, including oil and gas, renewables, technology, mining, power, and nuclear. As a talent solutions agency, we have an excellent knowledge of recruitment, and a team of experienced consultants who can provide the best advice, and results.

To find out how we can support you in the rapidly evolving climate, please contact our team today.

The energy crisis has flooded the news in recent weeks with rocketing energy bills leaving people worried and uneasy about the future. One development, which could be part of seven wider oil and gas projects in the UK, is the government’s fossil fuel industry regulator ‘green-lighting’ a new oil and gas project in the North Sea. The Abigail oil field is set to be developed just off the east coast of Scotland.

While campaigners are raising concerns about the decision, which comes six months after the UK hosted the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, the move could be a huge boost for the country’s energy sector.

The new oil and gas project will see a significant increase in job opportunities in the UK if it gets off the ground. In fact, here at Petroplan, we have invested in opening new offices in Manchester, and expanding our already existing hubs in London, and the Southeast of England because of the confidence we have in the sector, across both renewable and non-renewable markets. This confidence is underlined as the operations director of the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) told Sky News that oil and gas will continue to be part of the energy mix for decades to come.

Challenges to non-renewable energy expansion in the UK

There’s a realistic possibility that the Abigail oil field project may come to fruition, despite a similar project being abruptly halted last December. The Cambo oil field was due to be constructed just off the Shetland islands until the organisation that had a 30% non-operation stake in the project pulled out last minute in December 2021, meaning the project could no longer continue.

It is thought that the pressure from climate change activists, who have long been critical of the oil fields, caused the company to scrap their plans.

Some of this pressure and criticism relates to the supply and demand of oil and gas in the UK, with some researchers claiming that building oil and gas infrastructure in the UK would create a surplus amount of product. This, however, seems unlikely with skyrocketing consumer prices in the UK in a response to a surge in demand throughout Europe.  These pressures are exacerbated by the current political tensions in Europe and the likely strategic direction of European and UK interactions with Russian oil and gas production and distribution interests.

How could non-renewable energy expansion benefit the UK?

Campaigners challenging oil and gas developments could sit in direct contrast with pressure on the government from MPs who believe new fossil fuel development is needed to reduce UK energy bills.

It is possible that experts underestimate the amount of time it will take to fully commit to renewable energy sources; therefore, non-renewable energy sources will in all probability still be vital for decades to come. In line with this, it is predicted that fossil fuel production around the globe is set to soar over the next decade.

Expanding oil and gas infrastructure in the UK can be an advantage for people in the UK, protecting them from energy shortages, rising energy bills and strengthening the country’s energy security strategy.

Developments such as the Abigail oil field will not only have a positive impact to the public, but also on the oil and gas job market in the UK. The project will fuel highly skilled job creation whilst also equipping oil and gas workers with knowledge and experience that will eventually be transferrable to the wider energy sector as the country looks to adopt more renewable energy sources.

Are you hiring for oil and gas jobs in the UK?

At Petroplan, we specialise in recruiting contractors and permanent employees for businesses across the energy sector, including the oil and gas industry. We have a highly experienced team of recruitment specialists in the UK who have a strong understanding of the market and the challenges it faces. As champions of talent we continue to provide our clients with exceptional talent solutions. Contact our team today to find out more about how we can help your recruitment.

At the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) it was announced that the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is to be awarded $6 billion worth of investment to complete major contracts drilling for crude oil and gas, while also completing wells for future developments.

The investment will be implemented by distributing procurement awards to top drilling equipment contractors, covering wellheads, downhole completion equipment (DCE), liner hangers, and cementing accessories, including related components and services.

How will this affect the job market?

Crucially for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this investment is principally internal. ADNOC has stated that all the liner hangers, more than $900 million worth of the wellheads, and over $700 million worth of DCEs will be produced exclusively in the UAE.

This gives an opportunity to grow UAE domestic manufacturing capability and increase the demand for highly skilled workers in the country. Oil and gas jobs in the United Arab Emirates are highly sought after and this $6 billion investment means the state can deliver more employment opportunities in the industry.

This potential increase in oil and gas jobs in the Middle East will stimulate growth in the private manufacturing and local industrial sectors, consequently growing the UAE’s economy. In fact, the output of oil and gas accounts for around 30% of the UAE’s total GDP, demonstrating how ADNOC plays a crucial role in supporting the continued growth of the country’s economy.

The UAE’s plans for the future

It is assumed that this $6 billion package will bring a huge amount of ICV (in-country value) to the UAE. ADNOC states that potentially 60% of the total value of the awards could re-enter the UAE’s economy as the contracts are fulfilled.

This package also demonstrates how ADNOC is aligning its growth with the objectives of the UAE’s ‘Principles of the 50’  guidelines for the UAE’S next historical phase, a new era of social and political growth. These plans for long-term growth underline the UAE’s ambition  in the oil and gas sector, with ADNOC aiming to have an oil production capacity of 5 million barrels a day by 2030.

Included in the Principles of the 50 is the statement that ‘the main future driver for growth is human capital,’ highlighting how and retain specialist talent for employment in oil and gas jobs. The UAE believes that improving their educational system and building up the skills of their workforce internally is the way to ensure sustained, long-term growth in their economy.

Finding opportunities and talent in the UAE

At Petroplan we have longstanding experience in the oil and gas industry, finding the best talent for both contract and permanent hire. With a deep understanding of the Middle East market, our motivated team of consultants strives to build positive relationships between ambitious clients and talented contractors.

Since 2009 we have had offices in Iraq, Oman and the UAE (Dubai) and have established strong and trusted relationships with in-country partners. In the UAE specifically these strategic alliances mean that we are perfectly placed to fulfil recruitment needs in the UAE and facilitate effective communication between our clients and UAE nationals as and when required. Contact our team today to find out more about our recruitment services in the Middle East.