Last year job seekers were firmly in the driver’s seat of a skills-short market. While the current employment situation is relatively calm, we could very well be in the eye of the storm.

The resources sector will again be a driving force in jobs growth; however, the baton has been passed from mining to the oil and gas industry, and more specifically gas.

Chevron’s Gorgon project includes a three-train, 15 million-metric-ton-per-year LNG facility and a domestic gas plant.(Courtesy Chevron)

According to Matt Underhill, Managing Director of Hays Oil & Gas, “There is more than $200 billion of work due to come on line in terms of Australia’s gas infrastructure over the next 12 months. This is going to reenergize the job market back to the level it was if not more so.”

Some 16 projects are on the drawing board, including Woodside’s Pluto project, which is currently under construction in Western Australia. Chevron’s Gorgon Project was also given the green light by the State Government this month and is set to create thousands of jobs.

There is also positive activity on the east coast, where the focus is on Coal Seam Gas (CSG). Estimates suggest that there is more CSG here than the combined conventional gas resources of Bass Strait, the Cooper Basin, and the North West Shelf.

“So the storm is sure to return, and those with effective resource planning in place and the right infrastructure will be the ones who come out smiling,” said Underhill.

“Some of the skills built up in the mining boom are relevant to the new market; however, many of them are not, and most players are going to have to consider their potential talent pools ahead of when the demand hits.

“Australia’s oil and gas talent pool is relatively shallow in comparison to other regions around the world. This represent a significant challenge as not all players will want to cover, or can cover, the potential skill gap just by importing talent.

The latest quarterly report from Hays indicates exploration professionals, in particular Geoscientists with CSG or CBM experience and Senior Reservoir Engineers are amongst the most sought after in Australia.

For more information, visit www.hays-oilgas.com.