Canada's Oil and Gas Industry Will Need to Fill At Least
9,500 Jobs by 2015
(
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(Calgary AB) - Canada's oil and gas industry will need to fill a
minimum of 9,500 jobs by 2015, according to a report released today
by the Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada.
Highlights from the report, Canada's Oil and Gas Labour
Market Outlook to 2015, state that between now and 2015,
Canada's oil and gas industry is at risk of losing about three per
cent of its workforce overall, because of persistently low natural
gas prices. However, two primary factors - growth in certain
operations and age-related attrition across the industry - will
offset most job losses and in fact contribute to increased overall
hiring needs.
Changes in the number of jobs will not be
equal across all industry sectors. For example, the oil and gas
services sector, although impacted by commodity price volatility,
will still need to fill about 5,400 jobs between 2012 and 2015. The
exploration and production (E&P) sector, hardest hit by
prolonged low natural gas prices, may see some workforce
contraction but will also experience skill and experience gaps as
it loses workers due to retirements and turnover, especially for
industry-specific roles.
By 2015, employment in the oil sands sector is projected to
increase by 29 per cent over 2011 levels, or approximately 5,850
jobs. The pipeline sector will add about 530 jobs over the same
period. Both sectors will also need to do significant hiring to
replace retiring workers and for turnover.
"This is a complex labour story," commented Cheryl Knight,
Executive Director and CEO of the Petroleum HR Council.
"Hiring will increase, but total number of jobs will remain
relatively flat. Certain sectors and operations will add jobs,
while others will lose some positions. And employee turnover is the
wild card that could have recruiters working to fill hundreds of
additional job openings over the next four years."
Knight continued: "At a more granular level, we're seeing high
demand for - and reduced supply of - skilled workers in specific
occupations, many of which are unique to the oil and gas industry.
Retirements are the greatest cause of this growing - and alarming -
skill and experience gap. The technical capabilities and knowledge
of retiring, experienced workers are just not easily replaced by
new entrants."
Funded in part by Government of Canada's Sector Council Program
and the Province of Alberta. Canada's Oil and Gas Labour
Market Outlook to 2015 includes labour demand projections for
38 core occupations in Canada's oil and gas industry, within four
industry sectors (E&P, oil sands, oil and gas services and
pipeline). Analysis is also provided for key operating regions in
Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan) as well
as for the rest of Canada. The report is now available for purchase
at www.petrohrsc.ca. Alberta's Oil and Gas
Labour Market Outlook to 2015, a companion product, is
available for free to those who purchase the Canada-wide
outlook.
More Information about the Petroleum HR Council:
Additional Labour Market Information:
The Petroleum HR Council is the primary resource to address
workforce development and labour market issues in the Canadian
petroleum industry. The Petroleum HR Council collaborates with
partners to develop strategies, solutions, products and services
that help industry develop a sustainable, skilled and productive
oil and gas workforce.
Please contact:
For media inquiries...
Rowena Sampang
Manager, Marketing and Communications
rsampang@petrohrsc.ca
403-516-8145
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services...
Tara Prudhomme
Project Manager, Sales
tprudhomme@petrohrsc.ca
403-516-8120