In today’s rapidly changing world, it’s more important than ever for oil and gas companies to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends. One area that is undergoing a major transformation is the skills and education required of the 21st-century oilfield worker.
Twenty-five years ago, the skills and education needed to work in the oilfields were very different than they are today. Thanks to advances in technology, today’s oilfield worker needs a completely different skill set.
In this blog post, we’ll be exploring what that skill set is, and how it can be a difference-maker. Let’s begin!
State of the Industry
So, what exactly are the skills and education that the 21st-century oilfield worker needs? Let’s take a look.
Thanks to advances in technology, oil and gas companies are now able to automate many of the tasks that used to be performed by human workers. This has resulted in a decrease in the overall number of workers needed, as well as an increase in the safety of those who are still working in the field.
As more and more companies move towards automation, it’s becoming increasingly important for workers to be comfortable working with sophisticated machines. Gone are the days of heavy manual labor by teams of unskilled workers. Gone are the days when an oilfield worker could get by with just a high school diploma and a few weeks of on-the-job training.
In the past, most oilfield workers were recruited based on their physical strength and ability to endure long hours in harsh conditions. While these qualities are still necessary for some positions, they are no longer enough to guarantee success in the industry.
Computers and Data
In today’s automated oilfields, workers require advanced education to find success. Let’s take a closer look at how the skills and education needs of oilfield workers have changed in recent years.
Once comfortable with automation, today’s oilfield workers need to build a strong understanding of data analysis. With so much data being generated by automated equipment, it’s essential for workers to be able to make sense of it all and identify patterns that could indicate problems or areas for improvement.
Of course, all of this means that today’s oilfield workers need to be much more highly skilled than their counterparts from 25 years ago. In order to be able to work with the new technology, today’s workers need to have a strong understanding of computer science and engineering. They also need to be able to troubleshoot any issues that may arise during operations.
Finally, the 21st-century oilfield worker needs to be highly adaptable and able to learn new things quickly. Because the industry is constantly changing and evolving, workers need to be able to adapt to new situations and learn new skills on the fly. Those who are not able or willing to do so will quickly find themselves left behind.
For example, one skill that wasn’t even considered necessary for oilfield workers a few years ago is now essential: social media. In today’s world, it’s important for companies to have a strong social media presence, and that requires workers who are comfortable using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The skills and education needs of the 21st-century oilfield worker are constantly changing and evolving. The workers who will find the most success are those who are able to adapt quickly and learn new skills as needed. That’s why, at AOF Industries, we encourage continuing education among all of our employees, and why your company should, too.
It’s a Different World
The skills and education requirements of 21st-century oilfield workers are vastly different than they were just 25 years ago. Thanks to advances in technology, today’s workers need to be comfortable with automation and skilled in data analysis.
They also need to be highly adaptable so that they can keep up with the constantly changing industry landscape. Oil and gas companies that are looking for qualified candidates should keep these changing needs in mind when recruiting new employees.
At AOF Industries, we have embraced automation and the role it now plays in our industry. If you have a project on the horizon where you could use some help implementing these technologies, then give us a call right away!
