So here’s some pleasant news: it turns out that the offshore oil and gas sector is booming as evidenced by the sheer demand for skilled workers at the moment.
A new report from Oil and Gas UK says that nearly 57,000 workers made the jump to an offshore rig in 2012. This is a remarkable figure, especially considering that this was nine per cent higher than 2011’s offshore worker totals and also managed to hit the highest total ever in the six years the trade industry body has been keeping track of such figures.
These positions tend to be quite stable ones, so if demand for offshore workers is building steadily then it’s an excellent source of either permanent or contract-based employment. Most workers spend a minimum of 100 days offshore in any given year, so the chances that a position on an oil or gas platform will be a a long-term commitment are quit high indeed!
Still, it’s not so rare to have short-term positions on these platforms either and this is where the freelancing community comes in. Most contract workers absolutely value their flexibility and are loath to sign on for such a long stint away from home, but the need for short stays of around ten days or less is nearly as high, so even though these positions aren’t ‘core’ ones I think it’s a safe bet to consider them highly sought-after and quite rewarding for anyone inclined to spend a few nights off in the middle of the North Sea.
I don’t know anyone personally who would be ready, willing or able to pack up and leave on a 10-day tour of an oil or gas rig in the middle of the North Sea, let alone a 100-day commitment! Still, if you’re the adventurous type and you enjoy what is most likely a quite well-paying yet challenging environment – and you have the requisite skills and experience to qualify for such a position – why not take a bit of a holiday? I hear the weather off the coast of Scotland is absolutely bracing.
That’s a polite way of saying ‘you’ll probably catch your death of cold,’ but hey – at least you’ll die with a fat pay cheque, right? And besides, you didn’t want to live forever, did you?
