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Abespetro Warns About Shortage of Technicians in the Oil and Gas Sector; Offshore Professional Deficit Reflects Lack of Qualified Labor and Technical Training in the Industry.
Shortage of Technicians in the Oil and Gas Sector: An unprecedented survey conducted by Abespetro (Brazilian Association of Oil and Natural Gas Companies) revealed a deficit of at least 5,100 medium-level technical professionals in the Brazilian offshore oil and gas sector, which includes offshore operations. The number was based on data from 30 companies in the sector, including service providers and operators.
The demand is mainly driven by the resumption of projects in the pre-salt and by exploration in areas such as the Equatorial Margin, combined with the impact of nearly a decade without coordinated initiatives for specialized workforce training. According to specialists, the scenario calls for urgent measures to train new technical workers, especially given the prospect of strong activity growth by the end of the decade.
Actual Deficit May Be Greater, Says Abespetro President
According to Telmo Ghiorzi, executive president of Abespetro, the figure of 5,100 vacancies represents only the “minimum demand” of the sector. This is because the universe of companies surveyed does not cover the entire market, and the study does not include shortages in administrative, land support, or higher-level roles.
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Ghiorzi warns that if Petrobras obtains authorization to explore oil in the Equatorial Margin, for example, the deficit could increase considerably by 2027, with new platforms and projects coming online. He also mentions the movement to revitalize mature fields by independent oil companies, which is expected to create more technical positions.
The Most Critical Occupations
Among the 145 technical occupations mapped, Abespetro highlighted the ten functions with the highest scarcity, which account for 2,100 of the 5,100 vacancies (about 42% of the total deficit). They are:
- Welder
- Boilermaker
- Mechanic
- Industrial Painter
- Deckhand
- Helper
- Marine Electrician
- Crane Operator
- Production Operator
- Occupational Safety Technician
These roles are considered strategic for the operation of offshore platforms, and the labor shortage could create serious bottlenecks in the operation of companies involved in oil and gas production at sea.
Interruption in Technical Training Worsened the Scenario
The gap in coordinated training for technical labor has been identified as one of the main causes of the current problem. The Prominp (National Oil and Natural Gas Industry Mobilization Program), which had taken on the role of training since 2004, was interrupted in 2016. Since then, there has been no adequate replacement.
The sector’s crisis between 2014 and 2016, combined with the effects of Operation Car Wash, fall in oil prices, and the lack of new bids from ANP, contributed to the discontinuation of qualification programs, explains Breno Medeiros, vice president of Abespetro.
Solution: Resumption of PRH-ANP for Technical Level
In response to the bottleneck, Abespetro supports the resumption of the ANP’s Human Resources Program (PRH-ANP) aimed at technical training. The initiative is being restructured under the coordination of Fapesp (São Paulo Research Foundation) and should include an Industry Committee, which will help align technical courses with the actual needs of the market.
According to Ghiorzi, the resumption of the program is essential to reverse the offshore professional deficit in the medium term, since it takes 12 to 24 months to train a technician.
Employability in the Sector is Rising
The research also shows that the oil and gas sector has been increasingly rehiring. In 2023, the number of employees in the segment reached 616,000 people. If the projects under evaluation, such as the exploration of the Equatorial Margin, are authorized, this number could rise to 911,000 by 2029, estimates Abespetro.
This growth is also already reflected in technical salaries. Data provided by Firjan (Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro) indicates that in 2024, the average real admission salary for technical positions in the oil and gas sector was R$ 4,617. The values range from R$ 1,988 (platform worker) to R$ 12,462 (foreman), depending on the function and level of responsibility.
Salaries of the Most Critical Functions
According to Abespetro, the salaries for the five most critical technical occupations vary as follows:
- Deckhand: R$ 2,490
- Mechanic: R$ 3,429
- Welder: around R$ 3,100
- Marine Electrician: above R$ 3,000
- Crane Operator: approximately R$ 3,600
Between 2022 and 2024, the average salary in the oil and gas naval sector increased by 12%, reinforcing the thesis of growth in the technical labor market.
Technical Training as a Strategic Priority
Specialized technical training is now seen as one of the central points to ensure the sustainable advancement of the sector in the coming years. The absence of qualified professionals can not only delay projects but also generate extra costs with workforce importation or the need to train teams without practical experience in the offshore sector.
Abespetro advocates that the government, operators, and educational institutions work together to reactivate the virtuous cycle of qualification and employability, focusing on the new projects planned in the pre-salt and the new exploratory frontiers in Brazil.
As empresas só contratam quem é indicado! Profissionais qualificados tem de monte!
Sou técnico de segurança do trabalho com 16 anos de experiência em setores como construção civil pesada, mineração, operações portuárias, distribuição de energia e inclusive óleo e gás mas já foram centenas de currículos enviados e nem sequer uma entrevista tenho a oportunidade de participar! 1º de maio dia do desempregado para mim!
Quero uma vaga para estagiário de segurança do trabalho
Trabalho na área siderúrgica e ganho muito mais como Eletricista,esse salário ofertado pra trabalhar embarcado estão vergonhoso.