DOHA: “Ageing workforce” and “specialist skills gap” in the region’s oil and gas sector will be among some of the key issues to be discussed at the upcoming 9th Annual Health, Safety, and the Environment (HSE) Forum in Energy to be held here from September 30 to October 2.
As global survey reinforces need for continued investment into skilled workforce – 86 percent of regional oil and gas labour is imported — the industry leaders are expected to have brainstorming sessions at the three-day event to address the implications of potential skills shortage in the energy industry.
According to the 2013 Oil & Salary Guide released by Hays, the global oil and gas recruitment company, which surveyed 25,000 industry professionals around the world, despite falling oil prices employment confidence throughout the industry remains high, although health and safety remains a concern especially with new recruits.
“Skills shortages are the number one concern for industry employers. In 2012, Hays reported a large influx of hires into the oil and gas industry, especially in the zero to four years experience bracket.
“This trend ‘red flags’ the critical need for ongoing training and professional development in health and safety,” said Dr Bruce Palmer, Programme Chair and Professor of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University-Qatar.
Another human resources aspect that The Hays report highlighted was the increasing global trend towards workforce localisation, supported by data that shows a contraction in expatriate use in 2012, although 43.4 percent of survey respondents said that they expected expatriate levels to increase in the next 12 months.
The Middle East workforce currently relies on 86.4 percent foreign workers with only 13.6 percent local personnel.
“This year’s forum provides a relevant platform for regional industry decision makers to not only share experiences, but pool ideas to formulate a practical and achievable road map for the future. The potential skills shortage and its effect on health and safety is leading the agenda on development and strategy,” said Zenab Husain, Director of the conference, organised by Fleming Gulf.
Held under the patronage of the Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, who is also Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum, the conference and exhibition, which includes a series of workshops on day three, is designed to help support initiatives to reduce workplace fatalities and maintain employee well-being in the region’s energy sector.
The Peninsula
