UKCS Sees Increase in Young Workers Traveling Offshore

The total number of people traveling offshore on the UK Continental Shelf increased by 8.6% in 2013.

The total number of people traveling offshore on the UK Continental Shelf in 2013 increased by 8.6 percent compared to 2012, according to statistics released Tuesday by Oil & Gas UK.

The trade organization said that there was a 14.7-percent increase in workers aged between 24 and 29 going offshore. This was the largest increase of any age grouping of workers.

There was also a slight drop in the average age of workers traveling offshore.

Oil & Gas UK Employment and Skills Issues Manager Dr. Alix Thom commented in a statement:

"The data in this year's report confirms that in 2006-2013 the largest increase in the offshore population was in the 18-29 age group. Their presence, and the fact that the average age of the total offshore workforce has dropped from 41.1 in 2012 to 40.8 in 2013, is helping to dispel the common misconception that the offshore population is aging. 
  
"However, this good news must be considered against the 8-percent reduction in production seen in 2013 and the fact that there has been a slight drop in the proportion of female employees relative to the total offshore population. Women now comprise 3.6-percent of the total offshore population representing a decrease of almost 0.2 percent since 2012. Given the current level of demand for skilled employees, and the high level of activity on the UK Continental Shelf, it is in the industry's interest to increase its focus on tackling this lack of gender diversity as it represents a significant, but not fully utilized, pool of talent."

Northwest Territories Seeks
Opportunities in Oil, Gas by Karen Boman

Unconventionals and Deepwater
Can Co-Exist
by Robin Dupre

UK, Scots Ministers Differ on Fiscal Stability
Approach for North Sea
by Jon Mainwaring