Canadian-Based Oil and Gas Professionals Most Confident in the World About Career Prospects
HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Canadian-based energy professionals are the most confident in the world about their career prospects this year, with a majority (54%) anticipating that it would be easy to find a new position in their field in 2012, according to a comprehensive global survey by Rigzone, the leading online resource for oil and gas information, data and talent recruitment. This result just squeezed by peers in Australia (by four-tenths of a percent), as well as from the United States (49%), South America (46%), the Middle East (45%), and Europe (42%) who expected ease in finding a new job.
The survey's more than 1,100 Canadian-based energy professionals noted a substantial increase in recruitment activity during the latter half of 2011, with more than three-quarters (78%) of respondents reporting at least one contact from a recruiter in the last six months of the past year. Talent scouting is particularly vigorous for petroleum and design and construction engineers -- only eight percent and 14 percent, respectively, did not receive even one recruiter inquiry in the last six months.
All of this recruiting activity has had an impact on companies. More than four in 10 respondents (42%) noted an increase in their peers changing employers in the past six months. However, a minority of respondents (32%) said their employer had offered positive incentives to stay put in the past six months. When offered, the most frequent inducements: salary increases, more interesting or challenging assignments and higher or guaranteed retention bonuses.
"Alberta has the lowest unemployment rate in the country and you cannot overlook energy's role in that result," said John Benson, Managing Director, Energy, of Dice Holdings, Inc. "This year is starting with an aggressive recruiting market. Energy companies need to be proactive in both keeping the talent they have and attracting new professionals into the industry."
Many oil and gas professionals are open to exploring their career options. Canadian-based professionals were split nearly evenly when asked if anything could stop them from moving on in 2012 -- 46 percent (yes) and 47 percent (no), with seven percent undecided. Not surprisingly, by far the most popular incentive would be an increase in salary, followed-by an opportunity to work overseas.
About the survey
From January 2 to January 9, 2012, Rigzone surveyed oil and gas professionals from every region of the world. More than 27,800 employed professionals responded to the email survey, with 1,123 identified as working or residing in Canada. Duplicate responses from a single IP address were removed. Margin of error is +/- one percent.
Table 1: How easy do you anticipate it would be to find a favorable new position in your area of specialty in 2012?
|
Canada |
Australia/ Oceania |
Africa |
Asia |
Europe |
Middle East |
South America |
United States |
Very easy |
17% |
14% |
16% |
13% |
12% |
15% |
17% |
16% |
Fairly easy |
37% |
40% |
27% |
32% |
31% |
30% |
29% |
33% |
Fairly hard |
20% |
24% |
21% |
27% |
27% |
26% |
23% |
24% |
Very hard |
5% |
5% |
8% |
8% |
9% |
6% |
7% |
9% |
I don't know |
20% |
17% |
29% |
21% |
22% |
24% |
24% |
18% |
Table 2: How many calls have you received from recruiters in the last six months?
None |
22% |
1-5 |
44% |
6-10 |
20% |
11-15 |
6% |
16 or more |
8% |
Table 3: Within your current firm, has your department or area of specialty experienced a change in voluntary departures in the last six months?
It's substantially higher than last year |
16% |
It's slightly higher than last year |
26% |
No change |
39% |
It's slightly lower than last year |
3% |
It's substantially lower than last year |
2% |
Not applicable |
14% |
Table 4: In the last six months, has your employer offered you any positive incentives to deter you from moving to another company?
Yes |
32% |
No |
68% |
Table 5: What incentives did your employer offer to you to deter your leaving?
(Affirmative respondents only. Multiple answers accepted.)
More interesting or challenging assignments |
28% |
Increased salary |
62% |
Higher or guaranteed retention bonus |
23% |
Reimbursable education or training programs |
13% |
Promotion or new title |
17% |
High-level recognition |
10% |
Opportunity to work in a new location |
18% |
Flexible work hours |
16% |
Increased staff to help reduce workload |
8% |
Participation in employee stock options, restricted stock, etc. |
13% |
Other (Please specify) |
7% |
Table 6: If you find an appropriate new opportunity, could anything deter you from moving on in 2012?
Yes |
46% |
No |
47% |
Not applicable, I'm staying with my current employer |
7% |
Table 7: Which of the following would most persuade you to stay?
(Affirmative respondents only.)
More interesting or challenging assignments |
15% |
Increased salary |
37% |
Higher or guaranteed retention bonus |
5% |
Reimbursable education or training programs |
3% |
Promotion or new title |
8% |
High-level recognition |
3% |
Opportunity to work overseas |
16% |
Flexible work hours |
3% |
Increased staff to help reduce workload |
2% |
Participation in employee stock options, restricted stock, etc. |
2% |
Other (please specify) |
5% |
Note: Results may not equal 100 percent due to rounding or multiple answers accepted as noted.
About Rigzone
Rigzone, a Dice Holdings Inc. service, is a leading online resource for the oil and gas industry delivering content, data, advertising and career services. Dedicated to bringing upstream oil and gas news and data, including in-depth information on exploration, drilling and production markets to organizations tackling the energy challenge, its online community of highly-skilled and experienced energy professionals is unmatched. www.rigzone.com
Media Contacts
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SOURCE Rigzone
http://www.rigzone.com
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