Since the price of oil crashed in 2014 it is estimated that more than 440,000 jobs have been cut in the sector worldwide. But with the price of oil having stabilised since July 2017, new research by recruiter NES Global Talent and oilandgasjobsearch.com shows that almost 90% of employers expect staffing levels to either increase or remain the same in 2018.

The survey shows that in total almost 60% of employers expect to recruit significantly over the next 12 months. Of those, almost a quarter of employers expect to increase their workforce by 5%; almost a fifth expect to increase staffing by between 5% and 10%; and more than a sixth by more than 10%.

Almost a third of employers expect staffing levels to remain the same and just 11% of employers expect to cut jobs.

Tig Gilliam, CEO of NES Global Talent, said: “Globally we are now increasingly confident that the market supports increased investment in the energy sector. Energy companies with the support of their partners have right-sized their organisations for the current levels of activity. With a stabilised price environment and lower cost profile, more and more assets offer attractive returns on investment and operations. This increasing activity is leading the higher performing companies to refocus on quality people to lead and deliver value.

“While this activity is being led by a sharp increase in investment in US shale, there has also been an uptick in capital projects being approved which will positively impact the industry across all regions. With our own staff operating in over 60 countries, the increasingly positive tone of our clients and contractors is a welcome signal of the turnaround in the market and the participants in this survey echo that sentiment.”

You can read the oil and gas market report here