Nearly three-quarters citing difficulty finding qualified professionals
Hiring managers in the oil and gas industry in the United States plan to boost hiring in the second half of 2013, according to a national survey by Rigzone.
Citing current market or economic conditions, nearly one-half (48 per cent) of hiring managers plan to boost hiring in the next six months, found the survey of 183 recruiters. That compares to just eight per cent of respondents who had a less favorable view of the market sparking a decrease in their hiring plans.
"The results are encouraging for oil and gas professionals who've seen new jobs created in the first part of the year, but at a slower pace than we've enjoyed in the past few years,” said Paul Caplan, President of Rigzone. “While the overall hiring environment may be described as tempered, ratchet that description up several notches to flat-out, unbridled optimism for engineers.”
Engineering positions dominate the list of new positions hiring managers are planning to recruit for in the second half of this year. The top ten positions are:
• Mechanical engineers
• Design engineers
• Petroleum engineers
• Electrical engineers
• Reservoir engineers
• Pipeline engineers
• Health, safety and environment managers
• Finance and Accounting talent
• Production engineers
• Process engineers.
Nearly one-half (48 per cent) of hiring managers said they are not seeing an increase in the number of candidates applying for positions, as compared to six months ago. At the same time, professionals who are interested in new positions are upping their demands. More than one-half (54 per cent) of hiring managers and recruiters said candidates are asking for more money than they were just six months ago.
Companies are balancing the need to attract and retain talent. On the question of counteroffers, hiring managers were nearly split, with 39 per cent saying yes, they are seeing or making more counter offers than six months ago and 40 per cent stating that is not the case.
More than one-half (55 per cent) of hiring managers and recruiters said they anticipate a shift to more full-time employment in 2013, as compared to 2012. That compares to 34 per cent of respondents who intend to hire more contractors, 26 per cent who plan to utilize staffing more, and 21 per cent who anticipate a hiring increase for rotational workers, found the survey.
However, there are more hiring managers (18 per cent) who expect to hire fewer part-time workers in 2013, which outstrips the 15 per cent of respondents who anticipated hiring more part-time staff.
One-third (33 per cent) of managers said the length of time to fill open positions has increased relative to last year. Those who saw the time it takes to fill open positions lengthened attributed the wait to a lack of available talent, with 71 per cent citing an inability to find qualified professionals. Less than one-quarter (22 per cent) of hiring managers and recruiters said the time it takes to fill open positions is shortening, primarily attributing the decrease to companies recruiting for new positions.
