North Sea Oil: Manpower and training implications Available to Purchase

By 1980 the North Sea oil fields so far discovered should be in full production. But there is a grave danger that their full development will be hindered by a shortage of skilled labour. Not because with this country's engineering and shipbuilding traditions there are not the skills available, but because the labour force is in the wrong place. So far the UK offshore oil industry is still moving into the development stage. Much of the exploration work has been carried out by roving teams working for the international oil groups around the world. But as the oil companies move through the development stage towards establishing regular production, so they are having to turn increasingly to British labour. And the strains are beginning to tell.