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Abespetro warns of shortage of technicians in the oil and gas sector; deficit of offshore professionals 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 Petroleum Goods and Services Companies) revealed a deficit of at least 5,1 mid-level technical professionals in the Brazilian offshore oil and gas sector, which includes operations on the high seas. The number was calculated based on data from 30 companies in the sector, including service providers and operators.
Demand is driven mainly by the resumption of pre-salt projects and by exploration in areas such as the Equatorial Margin, added to the impact of almost a decade without coordinated initiatives for training specialized labor. For experts, the scenario requires urgent measures to train new technical workers, especially given the prospect of strong growth in activity until the end of the decade.
Real deficit could be higher, says Abespetro president
Second Telmo Ghiorzi, executive president of Abespetro, the number of 5,1 thousand vacancies represents only the “minimum demand” of the sector. This is because the universe of companies interviewed does not cover the entire market, and the study does not include shortages in administrative, ground support or higher level roles.
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Ghiorzi warns that, if the Petrobras obtain authorization to explore for oil on the Equatorial Margin, for example, the deficit could increase considerably by 2027, with new platforms and projects coming into operation. He also mentions the movement of revitalization of mature fields by independent oil companies, which should generate more technical positions.
The most critical occupations
Among the 145 technical level occupations mapped, Abespetro highlighted the ten most scarce functions, which add up to 2.100 of the 5.100 vacancies (about 42% of the total deficit). They are:
- Welder
- Boiler Operator
- Mechanic
- Industrial painter
- deck sailor
- Helper
- marine electrician
- crane operator
- Production operator
- Work safety technician
These functions are considered strategic for the operation of offshore platforms, and the lack of labor can generate serious bottlenecks in the operations of companies involved with them. offshore oil and gas production.
Interruption in technical training worsened the situation
O gap in coordinated workforce training technique was pointed out 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 suitable replacement.
The crisis in the sector between 2014 and 2016, combined with the effects of Car Wash Operation, drop in oil prices and the absence of new tenders by the ANP, contributed to the discontinuation of the qualification programs, explains Breno Medeiros, vice-president of Abespetro.
Solution: resumption of PRH-ANP at technical level
In response to the bottleneck, Abespetro supports the resumption of the ANP Human Resources Program (PRH-ANP) focused on technical training. The initiative is being restructured under the coordination of Fapesp (São Paulo State Research Support Foundation) and should include an Industry Committee, which will help align technical courses with the real needs of the market.
According to Ghiorzi, the resumption of the program is essential to reverse the deficit of offshore professionals in the medium term, since the training a technician takes between 12 and 24 months.
Employability in the sector is on the rise
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 thousand people. If the projects under evaluation, such as the exploration of the Equatorial Margin, are authorized, this number may rise to 911 thousand by 2029, estimates Abespetro.
This warming is also already reflected in the technical salaries. Data provided by Firjan (Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro) indicate that, in 2024, the real average entry salary for technical positions in the oil and gas sector was R$4.617. Values vary between R$ 1.988 (platformer) e R$ 12.462 (immediate), depending on the function and level of responsibility.
Salaries for the most critical roles
Still according to Abespetro, salaries for five most critical technical occupations vary as follows:
- Deck Sailor: R$2.490
- Mechanic: R$3.429
- Welder: around R$ 3.100
- Maritime Electrician: over R $ 3.000
- Crane Operator: approximately R$3.600
Between 2022 and 2024, the average salary in the oil and gas naval sector had an increase of 12%, reinforcing the thesis of heating of the technical job market.
Technical training as a strategic priority
A specialized technical training is now seen as one of the key points to ensure the sustainable advancement of the sector in the coming years. The lack of qualified professionals can not only delay projects, but also generate extra costs with the import of labor or the need to train teams without practical experience in the offshore sector.
Abespetro defends that the government, operators and educational institutions act together to reactivate the virtuous cycle of qualification and employability, focusing on new projects planned in the pre-salt and in the new Brazilian exploratory frontiers.
The salaries offered to welders, electricians, painters, among others, are very low. Companies want to earn a lot and spend little.
There is no shortage of qualified technicians. There is a lack of opportunities because companies only hire those who have more than several years of experience.
I work in the steel industry and earn much more as an electrician, this salary offered for working on board is shameful.