Potential for over 64,000 new jobs in the UK from shale gas development
24 April 2014
A UK Onshore Operations Group (UKOOG)-commissioned report by EY today underlines how the development of shale gas in the UK could create a £33bn investment opportunity for British business, with the potential to create over 64,000 jobs.
Thu, 24 Apr 2014
A UK Onshore Operations Group (UKOOG)-commissioned report by EY today underlines how the development of shale gas in the UK could create a £33bn investment opportunity for British business, with the potential to create over 64,000 jobs.
UKOOG’s ‘Getting ready for UK shale gas’ report forecasts that at its peak this investment could be the source of around 64,000 jobs directly linked to shale gas exploration sites, indirectly in the supply chain or supporting services as a result of investment activity.
These include highly skilled direct site development roles, with above UK-average salaries, direct jobs in the supply chain and induced jobs as a result of the investment in the supply chain.
Ken Cronin, chief executive officer of UKOOG, says: “We are building an industry in this country which will not only potentially give the UK energy security and make a big contribution in tax revenues but will also bring immense benefits to other industries and create sustainable, well-paid jobs.”
The report confirms that the UK has historically had a strong capability in highly skilled engineering and geoscience, but there is now evidence of an ageing workforce and skills gaps, driven by the downturn and lower investment during the years of low oil prices in the 1990s.
According to the findings, the UK will need to standardise skill requirements and create a national institute of skills to address shortages and to provide the right opportunities for existing qualified personnel.
Kevin Forbes, managing director of energy sector jobs board Oil and Gas People, says the government needs to put in place some forward planning to deal with this skills gap the industry is currently facing.
“They need to put in place training and graduate schemes, as a lot of the skills and people we need will have to come from abroad,” he told Recruiter.
UKOOG’s ‘Getting ready for UK shale gas’ report forecasts that at its peak this investment could be the source of around 64,000 jobs directly linked to shale gas exploration sites, indirectly in the supply chain or supporting services as a result of investment activity.
These include highly skilled direct site development roles, with above UK-average salaries, direct jobs in the supply chain and induced jobs as a result of the investment in the supply chain.
Ken Cronin, chief executive officer of UKOOG, says: “We are building an industry in this country which will not only potentially give the UK energy security and make a big contribution in tax revenues but will also bring immense benefits to other industries and create sustainable, well-paid jobs.”
The report confirms that the UK has historically had a strong capability in highly skilled engineering and geoscience, but there is now evidence of an ageing workforce and skills gaps, driven by the downturn and lower investment during the years of low oil prices in the 1990s.
According to the findings, the UK will need to standardise skill requirements and create a national institute of skills to address shortages and to provide the right opportunities for existing qualified personnel.
Kevin Forbes, managing director of energy sector jobs board Oil and Gas People, says the government needs to put in place some forward planning to deal with this skills gap the industry is currently facing.
“They need to put in place training and graduate schemes, as a lot of the skills and people we need will have to come from abroad,” he told Recruiter.
