The Chinese oil and gas workforce

China has become a hive of oil and gas activity and there are many opportunities both in the north and south, particularly in coastal cities such as Shekou, Qingdao, Tianjin, Shanghai and Zhuhai. Chinese fabrication yards in these areas are winning more and more business from international owners and operators and these projects all need contractors with specific skills, which can be challenging.

The talent gap

We are all aware that there is a talent gap in the UK and US, and the main problem is the ageing of the skilled workforce in the energy sector. When it comes to China, there is problem but it is the lack of experience across all ages.

The biggest challenge in China

With most local workers entering multinational corporations, hoping to have a chance to move overseas, retention rates are very low for local workers in the energy sector. There is also a constant worry from local workers that there is a glass ceiling which they will quickly hit and not progress further because of a preference for expatriate management. Middle management employees in China are also constantly getting head hunted due to the above reasons.

NES Global Talent expands

Due to the above demand for skilled workers in China’s oil and gas industry and energy industry as a whole, NES is to open a new office in Shekou, South China. The new office will act as a regional hub for business activity across the South of the region, allowing NES to grow.

Comments

Joshua Schrijvers, Divisional Manager, NES Global Talent said, ‘South China is strategically important to us. We have several key clients in the region and being on the ground means that we can also further improve our service to our candidates and contractors.

‘The potential in China is huge. There are many opportunities for us in both the north and south of the country, particularly in coastal cities such as Shekou, Qingdao, Tianjin, Shanghai and Zhuhai. Chinese fabrication yards in these locations are winning more and more business from international owners and operators. These projects all need contractors with specific skills and this is where NES can help.

Adapted from press release by Claira Lloyd

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/21042014/china_oil_gas_workforce/