Aberdeen oil workers reveal personal fears for their jobs
Oil and gas workers in Aberdeen have opened up over their job fears and uncertainty for the future.
They spoke directly to Scotland's Just Transition Commission which today warns the region is heading for an 'unjust transition' away from fossil fuels.
Workers reported:
They told the commission – meeting in Aberdeen today – that skilled jobs are already being lost to the Scottish economy in the move away from oil and gas to renewable industries.
One worker said: 'It's happening now. We're seeing redundancies on a big scale, perhaps 2,000 over the past two to three years. The skills are going to go.'
Those interviewed said the credibility of the approach is 'seriously at risk' among offshore workers.
Another employee said: 'I've got probably four years left in the North Sea. Where do I go? My employer is not funding training. What do I do in four years?
'Who's going to be there for me in four years? There's a lack of information about where the work is and what are the skills required.
'Without this information you're just going to have a load of people who don't know what they're doing.
'A lot of guys are in denial. They think the North Sea will go on forever.'
A prevalent view is the Scottish and UK governments lack a plan for the transition.
There is a perception among some offshore workers that the timescales involved will shed UK offshore jobs while domestic consumption relies on 'dirtier' imported oil and gas.
A worker said: 'We are in a critical window. Mess up the next five years and we're really in trouble. Net zero is at stake, not just jobs in the north-east.'
The commission draws members from business, industry, trade unions, environmental and community groups and academia.
Their report says more needs to be done to support good quality jobs in the offshore clean energy economy – including in wind and carbon capture and storage.
It highlighted the need for a 'clear plan' to build the domestic supply chain and manufacturing for renewables.
The report adds: 'Workers need a clear and credible offer on training, with employers taking responsibility for supporting this alongside government action.'
The commission will meet Scottish Government ministers and UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks to discuss its findings in the coming weeks.
Scottish Government minister Gillian Martin welcomed the report.
She added: 'Workers are at the heart of Scotland's just transition to net zero.'
The UK Government said it has taken 'rapid steps' to deliver the next generation of good jobs for the North Sea as part of its Plan for Change.
A spokesman said: 'This comes alongside Great British Energy, which has already announced a £300 million investment in British supply chains, unlocking significant investment and helping to create thousands of skilled jobs, progressing our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower.'
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