Dive Brief:

• Nearly half of oil and gas professionals said they're concerned about an impending talent emergency according to Airswift's Global Energy Talent Index. Almost as many, 40%, said they believe the industry is already in the grips of a talent crisis; another 28% said it will become a reality within the next five years.
• Pay in the field, however, is up. Forty-one percent of non-hiring professionals reported an increase in pay over the past 12 months, the report said, and most anticipate additional raises in 2019.
• According to Airswift, oil and gas industry businesses must continue to evolve its approach to recruiting, and part of the answer may lie in renewable energy; renewables remains the biggest source of competition for talent, according to the report, with 42% of those open to switching sectors attracted to the industry​. Having cut apprenticeships and training during the downturn, the sector is now playing catch-up, Janette Marx, Airswift CEO said in a statement. "But it's making good progress. And, most importantly, companies now realize that no matter what happens economically, they need to consistently invest in their talent strategies."

Dive Insight:

The energy sector isn't unique in its talent woes; employers in nearly every field are struggling to attract and retain top talent. Stakeholders cite various causes: low unemployment, a skills gap, the opioid crisis, an aging workforce and more.

Legacy industries are considering whether it's time to rebrand in an effort to attract a more diverse workforce. To that end, many are offering learning initiatives that begin in elementary education, hoping to attract the next generation of workers by showcasing their STEM careers.

Others have turned to apprenticeships and employee learning programs, hoping to create a talent pool that meets their needs today and in the future. Workers so far have been receptive to expanding their skills sets, saying they expect automation, robotics and artificial intelligence to affect their jobs in a positive way in the next five to 10 years. But in a recent Randstad study, 40% said their employers haven't offered opportunities or paid for upskilling; and the same number said they won't arrange or pay for their own upskilling.

Employers working to remain agile as technology evolves and the market shifts may need to find a way to put apprenticeships and other learning programs back in the budget.