The future energy leader: a millennial dilemma

Abstract

Undoubtedly, there is an industry-wide urgent need to build a strong talent pipeline for the future, especially in the face of climate change. The future energy leader must be multi-faceted and exceptionally skilled, with the further challenge to be able to humanise the industry. They must balance the need for energy affordability and security alongside climate neutrality and articulate this complex industry to those outside of it. While there is a general industry consensus that finding appropriate talent to plug these gaps is becoming increasingly difficult, little work has been done in the space of practical, implementable solutions to solve this issue. With current data suggesting an aging workforce and high percentage of industry retirements at our doorstep, the time is appropriate for research into the problem at hand. This paper methodically outlines the current dilemma being faced in the recruitment and retention of young professionals, with particular emphasis on the data trends and higher education statistics as relevant to the local demographic of Perth, Western Australia. The paper will also suggest what future skills should be prioritised in order to progress industry goals. This paper outlines the strategies that Chevron Australia has leveraged in order to tackle this issue including, but not limited to, industry engagement, university engagement, human capital trends and predictive analytics. This paper includes example case studies from within Chevron Australia used to tackle this issue with an aim to apply the strategies on an industry-wide scale to come to a collective resolution.