Shortage of senior engineers in the Dutch oil and gas industry

The Department for Oil and Gas Technology of the Royal Institute of Engineers (KIVI) has conducted research into the supply and demand of engineers in the Dutch oil and gas industry. Among other things, this highlights the shortage of both senior engineers and female engineers. There are also concerns about the potential loss of innovation development among students due to increasingly school-based university education. At the start-up level, supply and demand appear to balance each other well. The findings of the investigation were presented on Wednesday 9 September to Merit Clocquet, Technology Pact program leader at the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

KIVI has mapped out the expected demand for engineers in the coming years and what specific knowledge and competences companies in the oil and gas industry expect from newly graduated engineers. The survey shows that there is a shortage of senior engineers with professional and sector-specific knowledge and that companies want to actively increase the percentage of female engineers.

Other points for attention are the demand for teachers in higher education with a background in the sector and the image of the sector. The increasingly school-based system in university education has the risk that it can lead to less innovation development and creativity among students. Novice engineers are strongly advised to work on their professional basis first. Positive points were the balanced balance of supply and demand from engineers. People were also positive about the salary level computers related jobs. 

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About the Royal Institute of Engineers (KIVI)

KIVI has been the professional association of engineers in the Netherlands since 1847. KIVI is committed to supporting engineers in their professional practice and propagates the importance of engineers and technology for society. To this end, KIVI cooperates with higher education and the technological industry and in a European context with other professional organizations for engineers.