It’s time for oil and gas freelancers and umbrella company contractors to stop slacking when it comes to polishing up on their skills, a new study says.
The Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce has taken contract workers for task for not keeping their skills up when it comes to finding jobs within the oil and gas industry. The bad news is that these operators hired on permanent workers much more often than they did contract workers. Not only that, but something like 49 per cent of these firms actualy plan to reduce the number of their interim workers over the next year.
In other words, it seems that the oil and gas sector has grown weary of your rubbish, freelancers. However, there’s still some hope for you, especially if you decide to bone up on certain skills that the entire sector is missing out on.
In fact, the survey found that there’s a serious dearth of workers that have proper technical and managerial expertise. It’s gotten so bad that these firms are wiling to offer premium pay packets to anyone who can come along and fill these roles – contract workers included – especially since there’s just not enough people to go around with the requisite knowledge. Those that do have the right mix of skills can look forward to pay packets that are around 5.1 per cent higher than they were last year, according to the AGCC survey.
For what it’s worth, it’s about damned time that the oil and gas sector got tough on what it needs and what it doesn’t. Not only that, but this represents a fantastic opportunity for any freelancer or contract worker that either has the skills the sector needs, or has enough background to update their existing knowledge to the point that they’re considered excellent candidates for positions.
Honestly, what are you waiting for? I know that the subset of interim workers that have experience in the oil and gas sector can’t possibly be that large, but those that are in the sector should know better than to rest on their laurels and not keep their industry skills in top shape. Though I suppose if you prefer being on the dole because you can’t get a job you can go ahead and forget about keeping your skills honed and sharp. Have a good time with your Jobseekers’ Allowance!
