United States oil and gas employment grew 5.4 per cent in 2018, taking on more than 880,000 new professionals. Employees are also being paid more – the US oil and gas industry’s payroll for 2018 was six per cent higher than the previous year.
Attracting a workforce
Investment in technology and efficiency gains enabled the oil and gas industry to recover from a deep industry downturn in 2014. Today, the industry is producing record levels of oil and natural gas but requires less than half the drilling rigs it needed four years ago.
Expanding exploratory efforts once more, there is a greater demand for skilled workers in the oil and gas industry to manage technologically advanced equipment.
At the top
In the US, employment growth was concentrated around areas of high oil and gas activity. The US’ largest petroleum-producing basin – the Permian Basin – is in Texas. The state accounted for close to half of all US oil and gas employment in 2018, while also featuring the largest growth of new employees in any state.
Operators have drastically increased oil production, thanks to advances in hydrocarbon recovery. As areas like the Permian Basin continue to focus on oil extraction, US oil production will continue to rise and more workers will be needed.
Across the pond
In the UK, renewed confidence in oil and gas has also increased recruitment. A fifth of UK oil and gas firms grew their workforce by more than 10 per cent in 2018, with 63 per cent of all contractors more confident about current UK Continental Shelf activities.
The same is true for the rest of the world. A global survey targeting oil and gas recruiters and hiring managers found 65 per cent of those surveyed recruited more in the first half of 2018 than in the second half of 2017.
The flaring knock-off
Workers entering the oil and gas industry will have to rely on accurate processes, requiring investing in tech to support personnel.
During oil and natural gas production, excess gas that cannot be safely transported or stored is flared. The process is performed for safety reasons, preventing the risk of explosion from pressure build-ups. Accurately monitoring and measuring processes like flaring is essential for the smooth running of the industry.
One of the most accurate ways to measure flare gas is with ultrasonic technology. Fluenta’s FGM 160 Flare Gas Meter uses ultrasonic technology to effectively provide measurement data, allowing oil and gas companies to ensure flaring is performed efficiently.
For more information on Fluenta’s FGM 160 Flare Gas Meter, click here.
