A new survey has revealed that over a quarter of oil and gas workers are actively seeking to leave the industry, with the majority calling for stronger government action to support retraining and job transitions.
The research, conducted by climate charity Platform, questioned more than 400 workers. It found that 27% are looking to quit the sector, while 53% said conditions have deteriorated over the past five years. Almost three quarters (71%) said they would consider switching to another industry altogether, and 9% are considering retirement.
The findings also highlight widespread dissatisfaction with political support. Some 95% of respondents felt the UK Government is not doing enough to help workers transition, while 83% said the same of the Scottish Government. Only 16% reported being happy in their current roles.
Workers cited stagnant wages, declining morale and poor treatment as key concerns. One respondent said staff were treated “like dirt”, while another criticised the lack of pay growth, claiming salaries had remained flat for more than a decade.
Ruby Earle, worker transition lead at Platform, said: “It is oil and gas workers who have the skills and talent to build our energy future. But they need to be supported to do so. Instead of warm words from politicians, we need tangible action now. That means financial support and training for workers to move sectors, investment in domestic manufacturing to create good, well-paid unionised jobs, and an expansion of publicly-owned energy to make sure the wealth generated is shared.”
Almost nine in ten respondents (88%) said they want fully funded retraining programmes, while 89% backed paid time off for training.
A UK Government spokesperson said: “We have taken rapid steps to deliver the next generation of good jobs for North Sea workers in a fair and prosperous transition, including making the biggest investment in offshore wind and carbon capture, and helping oil and gas workers access clean energy jobs through our ‘skills passport’ and training programmes. This comes alongside the launch of Great British Energy in Aberdeen, which has already announced £1bn in domestic supply chains, unlocking significant investment and helping to create thousands of skilled jobs.”
The results come amid growing uncertainty in the North Sea industry, as companies balance the challenge of declining reserves with increasing pressure to transition towards renewable energy.
