With GDP Affected, The Job Market In The Brazilian Oil Sector Could Bring Great Opportunities After The Pandemic Crisis

In Brazil, the oil and gas sector is the third largest market contributing to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), meaning it is extremely essential and has a direct impact on other sectors such as food, trade, land transportation, agriculture, and construction. There is no denying the importance of this natural resource in Brazil’s economy.

The pandemic hit the global oil market hard. In Brazil, traditional producing companies and cities experienced a sharp drop in their revenues due to the interruption of activities and the adoption of quarantine measures to slow the virus’s spread. Rio de Janeiro, for example, has about 30% of its GDP based on this oil industry and is suffering from an unprecedented fiscal crisis since March 2020.

Outsourced maintenance, food, logistics, and many other service companies have been laying off true “hordes” of workers recently during this quarantine, including Petrobras itself, the largest operator in the country.

The Crisis Is Temporary But The Market Recovery Is Certain

Researchers, doctors, and scientists around the world are currently working to discover a vaccine to immunize people as soon as possible, despite the forecast that this will take 18 months. As mentioned above, the oil and gas market is one of the major contributors to GDP, only behind the trade and construction sectors ( see here the latest job openings in this area).

Just as these workers were laid off, they will be rehired, and even new opportunities will arise as soon as the pandemic crisis ends or at least allows for a partial return to activities.

With the maintenance cycle schedule for offshore stops interrupted, companies and other sectors of the market need to quickly absorb labor to try to balance the backlog in contracts, especially Petrobras.

Large Subsea Companies, Oil Multinationals, and FPSO Operators Are Great Options

If you seek a long-term career with excellent benefits and salaries in this field, the best approach is to apply for jobs at specialized and well-established companies in the global market; many of them are here in Brazil:

• Aker Solutions
• TechnipFMC
• Baker
• Schlumberger
• Halliburton
• Weatherford
• Modec
• SBM
• Teekay
• Equinor
• Total

These are just a few examples; there are many others operating in Brazil. Since these companies have specific services and technologies, their contracts are very expensive and long-term, unlike structural maintenance companies, which opt for intermittent work and relatively short contracts.

There are still selection processes taking place during this recession period. Companies in this field are frequently using online conferencing methods for emergency job vacancies. CEPEM – Center for Business Psychology, a consulting company specializing in the oil sector, also made a statement last week:

“The moment is uncertain and unusual, but we cannot stop. It is a fact that many companies have temporarily suspended their selection processes, but others continue to hire for their urgent positions. The offshore market has not stopped. Therefore, if you are seeking reemployment or were participating in a selection process, do not abandon your routine and maintain constant access to email and phones. More than ever, have your Skype ID ready and install Skype for Business on your phone or computer. This greatly facilitates the flow of processes at this time.”