Employers in Canada’s oil, gas and utilities industries expect a shortfall of 24,000 nationally by 2014, a Mercer survey has found.
Stable oil prices and the resurrection of deferred oilsands projects are to blame for this skills shortage.
The number of workers heading to retirement is also responsible for the shortfall, as baby boomers currently represent over 40% of the Canadian energy sector workforce.
The Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada is also forecasting a shortage of as many as 100,000 workers over the next decade.
"Workforce planning is more important than ever for those employers wishing to avoid the market frenzy that was observed in 2006-07," warns Mercer in a media release.
