Research: Booming LNG Industry in Qld Will Create Twice as Many Jobs as Expected

Queensland’s booming CSG to LNG industry will create twice as many jobs as previously anticipated, with around 15,000 people now expected to be employed in the industry at its peak.

Energy Skills Queensland (ESQ) today released its 2013 Queensland CSG to LNG Workforce Plan, which found the demand for skilled workers had grown significantly as the major gas companies came to terms with the needs of their developments.

The Workforce Plan, which provides detail on both the operations and maintenance workforce needed in Queensland from 2014 to 2034, will be launched at the ESQ Annual Conference in Brisbane today.

It contains a series of recommendations to Government and industry on how to ensure Queensland does not face a critical shortage of necessary skilled workers to support the industry.

The report finds the CSG to LNG industry will generate “significant positive economic and social benefits on a national scale for Australia, Queensland, and for regional economies of the Mackay, Fitzroy, Wide Bay, Western Downs, and Darling Downs and Maranoa Regions”.

“It is anticipated the CSG to LNG industry will continue to grow in Queensland for more than 30 years, and will provide ongoing career opportunities across a number of occupations,” it says.

ESQ chief executive officer Glenn Porter said the research identified that over a 20 year forecast period the workforce is expected to peak at around 14,900 workers in 2024, more than double original assessments into future industry growth in Queensland.

“There is now a greater understanding of the required contracting workforce and updated project figures meaning the peak workforce numbers have more than doubled from original estimates,” Mr Porter said.

“Arrow Energy, Conoco Phillips, Origin Energy, Santos and QGC provided their company workforce data and information regarding their projected workforce needs which we have aggregated into this industry skills demand forecast.

“Through this unique collaboration we have developed a shared understanding of the industry’s combined future workforce needs and compared this to Queensland labour market data to identify skills gaps.

“The gap we have identified between skills demand and supply will provide industry with a list of critical occupational grouping which will enable the industry to focus its attention and resources on strategies to meet the skills shortages we have identified.”

ESQ’s Workforce Plan has identified more than 20 critical skills and occupations, which include: drillers, geologists, telecommunications technicians, instrumentation & control systems technicians, electrical fitters, engineers, technical trainers and health & safety officers.

Approximately 85 per cent of the overall operations workforce will be required in the Surat Basin and surrounding areas, with approximately 10 per cent and 5 per cent required in Gladstone and Brisbane respectively.

The Upstream (CSG field facilities) workforce will require the largest numbers of personnel across the development, maintenance and shutdown phases of gas wells.

Around 35 per cent of workers are expected to be employed directly by the gas companies, and around 65 per cent will be contracted through supply chain contractors.

Mr Porter said the CSG to LNG industry presented Queensland with potential for a wealth of long term employment and economic benefits so it was essential the industry continued to work together.

“The CSG to LNG industry has the potential to generate significant positive economic and social benefits on a national scale for Australia, Queensland, and for regional economies,” he said.

“As a result of our findings we have developed a number of key recommendations which will contribute to building a workforce which is flexible and competent, and to ensure all benefits from this emerging industry are realised.”

Energy Skills Queensland is the Industry Skills Body leading energy industry and government engagement on education and training, skills development and labour market issues.

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LNG World News Staff, November 04, 2013