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Addressing skill shortages across the oil and gas sector is the focus of an ‘industry skill action plan’ to be launched in Wellington this spring by the Department of Labour. The plan is a joint industry and government initiative that follows on from the findings of the latest oil and gas skills survey “Exploring the Challenge” that identified widespread skill shortages across the entire sector and all industry disciplines and qualification levels. The sector is vital to the Taranaki economy and is expected to grow significantly over the coming years. “We cannot sit back and assume that the skill shortages will right themselves,” says Sheree Long, labour market knowledge manager for the Department of Labour. “We need to ensure that the skills are there to support this growth and that’s what the Industry Skill Action Plan is all about.” The department commissioned the project to address skill shortages in a unified approach, she adds. “The plan aligns with the New Zealand Skills Strategy. There are many initiatives happening to address human resource issues at the moment, and it’s important that these are approached in a coordinated and collaborative fashion, particularly between government and industry.” The Industry Skill Action Plan proposes a three pronged approach and is based on the ‘make, fix, buy’ model developed by the department. It details tangible actions that will up-skill staff across all employment sectors, increased support for tertiary training and offshore recruitment of skilled tradesman and engineers. The plan (launched at a forum in Wellington on October 2) will be overseen by a working group from government departments and industry that will meet one a fortnight, Long says. “Some companies are currently employing school leavers directly and investing in their training for a period of time. The plan will provide direction to look at how other initiatives can best be coordinated across the sector. We’re also looking at global initiatives and can certainly learn from what other countries are implementing.” The strength of the project is this coordinated and collaborative approach. “Putting the Skills Action Plan and the identified strategies in place will require the commitment of all parties working as a cohesive oil and gas sector unit,” says Wendy Devine, industry training advisor team leader at the Extractives Industry Training Organisation (EXITO), based in New Plymouth. “These strategies are not about a quick-fix, or leaving it for another five years to ponder on skills shortages and coming up with the same issues.” EXITO facilitates the Petrochemical Sector Advisory Group of which current and future training needs of the sector are identified under its terms of reference. The group endorses the progress of the working party and emphasises the importance of ensuring the recommendations are discussed and endorsed at a strategic level – by both industry and multi-governmental partners. “The success of implementing the Skills Action Plan does not sit with one entity alone, as the plan relies on accountability of each and every partner to the identified priorities” says Devine. “The industry continues to provide the economy with emerging opportunities for the future, therefore the Skills Action Plan and the stakeholders involved to-date, accept the strategic focus that the plan identifies. The October forum will take the plan to another level, and we envisage these discussions will provide a further dimension to the Skills Action Plan.”
Energy NZ No.6 Spring 2008 |