An Exploratory Study of Skills Shortages within the Oil and Gas Industry in Scotland

The aim of this paper is to analyse the perceptions and awareness that school leavers and university students, aged between 14 and 25 in Dundee, have of the Scottish oil and gas industry in relation to skills shortage issues faced by the industry. A survey was carried out in one secondary school and one university in Dundee with a total of 145 respondents taking part in the survey. Findings indicate that school leavers and students have certain misperceptions of the Scottish oil and gas industry and hence more effort is required to communicate the attractiveness of the industry.