More Than Two-Thirds of UK O&G Professionals Believe they are Underpaid

More than two-thirds of UK-based oil and gas professionals believe they would be better paid if they worked for a different organization, according to a survey by Change Recruitment.

Change claims that its survey – conducted among 800 oil and gas professionals across the UK – shows that professionals in the sector feel underappreciated by the companies they work for, although when asked that question directly, only 26 percent responded that they did not feel appreciated by their employer. Nevertheless, other data from the survey suggests that O&G employers operating in an employees' market should be worried.

Almost half of the survey's respondents (48 percent) said that had not received an inflationary pay rise during the past two years. Just one-in-ten said there were structures in place at their employer to ensure pay keeps pace with inflation.

Seventy-three percent of respondents said they felt they would be better paid at another organization, with 54 percent also thinking that benefits would be better elsewhere. Seventy-five percent confessed that they were currently job hunting.

"The failure of pay rises to keep pace with inflation ultimately amounts to a backwards step in earnings for employees. It is really disappointing to see that only one in ten organizations have the appropriate structures in place to assess pay," Change Managing Director Laura Drysdale commented in a statement accompanying the results of the survey.

"However, if remuneration is the only gripe an employee has, then I would advise them to speak to their current employer and put their case forward for a pay rise before embarking on a search for a new job. It is important that workers know what their market value is so that they know they are getting a fair deal."

In September, inflation in the UK was running at between 2.2 percent and 2.6 percent according to Consumer Prices Index and Retail Prices Index measures.

A former engineer, Jon is an award-winning editor who has covered the technology, engineering and energy sectors since the mid-1990s. Email Jon at jmainwaring@rigzone.com.

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