Clash of the Titans

Australia in 2010 is shaping up to be a battlefield between two hubs of Oil and Gas –Queensland vs. Western Australia.

Projects such as Wheatstone and Browse in the West will be fiercely competing for talent against areas like Curtis Island and the Surat and Bowen basins in the East, to name just a few. And with final approvals looming for Sunrise and PNG LNG, round one has already begun.

Nicole Kirwan-Ward, Group General Manager for Energy Resourcing predicts that many engineering disciplines will be highly desirable.

“With such an emphasis on new projects, companies will be looking for candidates that have some experience in these fields. This means that they will be accessing a relatively small talent pool in Australia and will need to take some drastic measures to attract suitable employees.”

Rates are expected to increase in quarters 3 and 4, as more staff are on-boarded onto the projects. Companies need to very competitive in terms of working conditions, such as attractive rotations, site allowances and benefits, accommodation and flexi-time. Most importantly, the recruitment process needs to be expedited, as candidates will not be as patient as last year and may have several offers on the table.

An issue that is likely to arise as competition becomes fiercer is “head hunting”. Kirwan-Ward explained, “Traditionally, this has been viewed as being between different companies, but with so many JVs and shared ownership arrangements, it has become more likely that companies will ‘poach’ interstate from their own projects.”

Often under looked is the role that government and community have to play in attracting these workers. The West Australian Government has taken the proactive step of releasing a new town plan for Karratha, with updated facilities for the huge predicted population swell. Ensuring infrastructure is in place to not only support this new population, but attract them, is vital.

“The good news for candidates is that Australian oil and gas will certainly become a seller’s market, and they will be much more able to pick and choose their role. However, they still need to develop their network contacts to be considered for these roles.” Companies can and will fill specialised roles with 457 visa holders if they believe they cannot find the talent domestically, so the time is also ripe for overseas workers.

Energy Resourcing is finding that some companies have started to increase their recruitment capabilities in expectation of the swell of new employees. “Many hiring managers and leads are starting to talk about recruitment, but not necessarily doing any…yet. So now is the ideal time to talk to an agent or submit your CV, so you are ideally placed once the search begins in earnest.”