Posted on 07/26/2012 5:35:51 AM PDT by thackney
Australia will have to grapple with a shortfall of 1,700 engineers and 3,000 geoscientists over the next five years as the country is not producing enough engineering graduates to keep pace with its energy resources projects, GE Australia and New Zealand's industry skills development leader Stuart Manifold said Wednesday.
Manifold was speaking at the inaugural Australian Gas Technology Conference & Exhibition, running from July 25 to 27 at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre.
Manifold said that the skilled manpower shortage problem is pressing as other energy resources industries, such as the mining sector, are also vying with the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector for engineering graduates.
Data from GE shows that Australian universities at present produce only 9,500 engineering graduates each year, as compared to the country's need for 20,000 engineering graduates per annum.
Manifold remarked that Australia needs to step up on its efforts to retain its engineering graduates as the engineering skills shortage issue is a global one. This means that emerging regions, such as Africa and Southeast Asia, with new LNG and mining projects will also be eyeing Australia's engineering talent.
Meanwhile, it is not just the emerging economies that are showing an interest in poaching Australia's engineers. Graying economies, such as Japan, are also on the lookout for young engineering talent, KPMG's migration services partner Jason Berry said.
Industry watchers said that oil and gas companies can explore the possibility of increasing engagement with young Aborginal students as a long-term solution to address their engineering manpower needs.
"Indigenous workers represent a talented and valuable resource that is sadly overlooked by many companies," said One People HR's co-founder Kevin Chandler.
Chandler's views are shared by Colntarf Foundation Graduate Employment's general manager Mark Skehan.
"A greater range of entry-level jobs, graduate programs and university cadetships would encourage more indigenous students to pursue a career in the gas industry," Skehan said.
“Industry watchers said that oil and gas companies can explore the possibility of increasing engagement with young Aborginal students as a long-term solution to address their engineering manpower needs. “
Affirmative Action. Is there any problem it can’t solve?
Seems to be a world-wide shortage of skilled workers in the energy fields.
My son is majoring in Chemical Engineering at Purdue: I pray daily that he can make it through (a tough program to be sure) but if he gets his degree, he’s set for life.
In general, that seems to be true.
Industry Officials: Energy Sector Faces Shortage in Skilled Professionals
http://rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/118526/Industry_Officials_Energy_Sector_Faces_Shortage_in_Skilled_Professionals
If there really was a shortage wouldn't there be a follow on on how wages for petro/chem engineers was skyrocketing?
As an engineer, and as one who has hired engineers, I disagree.
If there really was a shortage wouldn't there be a follow on on how wages for petro/chem engineers was skyrocketing?
Engineering is far and away the highest salary for overall group with bachelor's degree.
http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/05/11/8-college-majors-with-the-highest-paying-starting-salaries/
Notice the difference in Median starting salary. Not the peak, but the middle of the group. If you go into engineering and just run with the pack, there is far more money to be made than other degrees without additional degrees.
So you've undercut your fellow Americans and hired indentured servants from the third world?
One more link with more detail:
2012’s Best Jobs for Bachelor Degree Grads
http://www.economicmodeling.com/2012/05/07/2012s-best-jobs-for-bachelor-degree-grads/
Petroleum Engineers = $53.62 - 2011 Median Hourly Wage
Only Managers and Chief Executives showed higher median hourly wages.
67K is not skyrocketing. It is barely keeping up with inflation. Look at starting salaries in the mid-90’s. Adjust it for inflation.
$53/hr is 110K/yr. That is not skyrocketing. Topless dancers make that much.
Certainly they have an H-1B equivalent.
Don't you believe it. There were a lot of chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineers in the group that got "age 50 downsized" when I did.
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