The oil and gas industry in the North Sea suffers from the same talent problems that affect other resource-rich areas of the world to a greater or lesser extent. Firstly, there are not enough graduates studying the relevant disciplines (both pure and applied) in UK universities.
So companies have a shallower talent pool from which to pick, often retaining experienced workers approaching retirement or using expatriate workers with the relevant skills.
According to a study by oilandgaspeople.com, over the next decade the North Sea industry will need to recruit around 120,000 new staff to fill the gap left by experienced staff retiring.
