With new projects in the pipeline, the Australian oil and gas industry is now looking for more workers to fill the vacancies.

According to Hays Oil & Gas Regional Director Simon Winfield, skills sets that are likely to be in demand throughout 2010 include geophysicists and drilling engineers, as well as subsea engineers.

According to Winfield, this demand has several causes. “Firstly, there are many instances of employers opting to recruit now in an attempt to gain competitive advantage and secure the best of the available talent,” he said, adding that “employers are recruiting with a more long-term view than they have during the past two years.”

Winfield further added that the long-term contracts are particularly visible when recruiting for larger projects. Temporary assignments, however, are also on the rise, especially in states undergoing concept design stages.