Oil and gas faces recruitment challenge among millennials
19 May 2017
The oil and gas industry is “at the threshold” of a global battle for new recruits which could see it lose out to rival sectors, warns a leading commentator.
Ryan Jenkins, who has advised leading corporations including Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo and equipment manufacturer John Deere on employee engagement, said a new approach was needed to retain the millennial generation.
“A war on talent has begun in the global workplace and the oil and gas industry is at the threshold. The millennial generation makes up the lion’s share of personnel across companies with 66% of them expecting to leave their current employer by the end of 2020, “said Jenkins.
“This makes attraction and retention amongst the greatest challenges for businesses today.”
His message came as it was announced that Jenkins would headline the annual OPITO Safety & Competence Conference (OSCC 2017), to be held later this year.
He added that companies must not only battle against competitors but rethink how they engage with the generation born between 1982-1997, via technology and understand their measures for a successful career.
Attraction and retention [are] amongst the greatest challenges for businesses today
Ryan Jenkins
With nearly one third of the UK workforce over 50, Britain, like many developed countries faces a substantial shortage of skilled labour in the decade ahead – and a greater reliance on the smaller population of working millennials.
Bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development have warned of a demographic challenge that will be exacerbated by a different attitude to career expectations among millennials.
In addition, research by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) last year revealed a greater degree of negativity among younger respondents to the oil, gas and chemicals sector.
OPITO interim chief executive officer John McDonald said there was an onus on the sector to improve its communication with younger recruits.
“The next generation has grown up in a hi-tech, fast-paced, interconnected world and as an industry, we need to look at how we can further embrace these methods and gadgetry advancements whilst maintaining standards,” he explained.
For details of this year’s OPITO conference see here.
