During panel debates, where industry-stalwarts share their visions on how the energy sector is evolving, it is often said that the job market for geoscientists in the energy sector will only get better. But is that a true reflection of what recent graduates experience once they enter the job market?
At the AAPG ICE Conference in Madrid in November 2023, PhD student Damian Pasiecznik stood up after a panel discussion on this very topic, and said that he and his PhD peers in academia did not see all the opportunities some of the panelists talked about. For me, it was a wake-up call, and it made me want to talk to more students to hear their views on how they experience the state of the job market for geoscientists in the energy space.
For this article, I asked people in Indonesia, Colombia, Spain and the UK about their views. Intan Pratiwi from Indonesia works as a geoscientist in the nickel mining and geotechnical industry. She graduated from the University of Lampung two years ago. Damian Pasiecznik, who currently works as a Geophysics AI Specialist, finished his PhD from the Montan university Leoben in Austria last year. Rodrigo Olivella from Colombia, who graduated with a bachelor in 2019, embarked on a masters degree in 2023 after having gained some years of working experience. And last but not least, Tom Langrish from the UK, who graduated from Royal Holloway in London late last year.
In what follows below, all of these people share their insights through answering questions about the job market, the energy transition and its associated jobs, and whether they would be keen to work in oil and gas.
How is the job market in your country?
The overall impression from the input received is that the job market in the countries the respondents are from is challenging. “I tried to find a job in my home country of Argentina and in Spain,” writes Damian, “but the job market for geoscientists is basically non-existent in both countries. Just by searching in LinkedIn is enough to understand how bad it is.”
Rodrigo’s impression about the situation in Colombia is similar. He writes: “The most accurate answer to the question of whether a geologist can easily choose a job is probably a no. Although our education equips us to work in a wide range of roles, the reality of the job market is quite different. It is often limited and primarily focused on fieldwork, significantly narrowing our options. As a result, many professionals are forced to accept positions that do not necessarily align with their interests, personal values, or professional aspirations.”
The most accurate answer to the question of whether a geologist can easily choose a job is probably a no
At the same time, Intan is a bit more upbeat and tells us that there are quite a few opportunities for recent graduates in Indonesia. However, she did add that some geoscientists still struggle to find jobs.
Tom provided a quite detailed account of the UK job market situation. He mentions that there are not many entry-level positions available in the UK, even though he admits that he does not have the full overview of how this was in the past. He writes: “There is definitely a frustration felt amongst recent graduates at repeatedly being told about the impending crisis within the industry at the skills gap which is forming due to a workforce nearing retirement age, and a huge drop in students studying geology at universities. However, the job opportunities for graduates are still few and far between. If this skills gap is to be plugged, then we need to not only encourage more students to study geology, but also have the roles available for students when they graduate, as this is not due to a lack of trying on the students’ part. Perhaps an increase in availability of entry level roles would also help attract greater numbers of students, especially if they can see an accessible and fruitful career waiting for them when they graduate.”
Do you think that the energy transition is creating many new job roles for young geoscientists?
Both Intan and Rodrigo are quite positive about the possibilities the energy transition offers to young geoscientists in Indonesia and Colombia respectively. “I believe the energy transition is creating exciting new roles and opportunities for geoscientists and geologists,” Rodrigo writes.
At this point in time, I believe that the energy transition is failing to create more opportunities for the young generation
However, there are some doubts too. “At this point in time, I believe that the energy transition is failing to create more opportunities for the young generation,” says Damian. “I have heard companies repeating that the percentage of geoscientists graduating each year is falling short of what is needed to fulfill the future job demand. However, as I have seen, this is not reflected in the job market. This does not help increase the interest of possibly new students in geosciences.”
Rodrigo also adds that “significant challenges remain, particularly within the marketplace. Many large corporations are still reluctant to fully commit to the energy transition, and their internal teams dedicated to this effort have seen little growth in recent years. For the energy transition to succeed, it is imperative that industries not only recognize its importance but also actively invest in the development of new technologies, the expansion of specialized roles, and the cultivation of interdisciplinary talent.”
Tom adds another interesting perspective by saying that “most of the energy transition roles seem to be filled by existing employees from within the industry, as sectors such as geothermal and CCS require similar skillsets to those required for oil and gas sector.” Yet, he does believe that a positive turnaround is round the corner. “There are definitely more roles opening in renewables though, especially in offshore wind development, and I have a lot of hope for this industry in the near future,” he concludes.
Would you want to work in oil and gas?
Some may argue that the people I asked to contribute to this article do not form a representative sample of the overall geoscience community, but it is interesting to see that all four I spoke to are open to work in oil and gas, despite the narrative that is often presented about the next generation of geoscientists.
“I am currently working in the nickel mining sector, but would very much like to return to the oil and gas sector,” writes Intan. “However, I haven’t had the opportunity yet.”
I think that this aspect of the industry needs to be communicated effectively to the general public to allow for a successful transition to renewables
“Oil and gas is part of our lives and we need it for absolutely everything,” reiterates Damian. “And because oil and gas companies are mixing their output with renewable alternatives, working for this industry today does not necessarily mean that you will be only focused on fossil fuels.”
“Personally, I would be open to continuing my work in the oil and gas sector,” writes Rodrigo. “However, I would only do so if the work aligns with the broader context of what is happening both globally and locally. For the oil and gas sector to remain relevant and contribute meaningfully, it must embrace a holistic perspective and actively participate in creating solutions that benefit society as a whole.”
Tom is not dismissive of working in oil and gas either, and similar to Damian he stresses the continued requirement for hydrocarbon production during the energy transition. “I think that this aspect of the industry needs to be communicated effectively to the general public to allow for a successful transition to renewables,” he writes.
Reflection
Based on the input received from these four graduates, I feel a picture emerges of hope for good job perspectives as a geoscientist, fueled by what some may hear from the more senior people in the business, but a reality that is not as rosy.
Even though the responses are different, I do think there is one common theme centering around the observation that a real job bonanza, especially in the “new” energy sectors such as geothermal and CCS, has yet to materialize. I feel that students are clinging on to it, for very good reasons, but the reality surely seems more complicated than what the panelists at conferences seem to convey.
On that basis, it is important to not only complain about the falling student numbers for Geology degrees, but also ask ourselves the question if there would be relevant jobs around in case numbers would rise dramatically. The answer is probably clear, and it is something that panelists at conferences should be made aware of too.
