A new energy landscape will lead to a sector skills drought, says a recent survey. Baringa Partners and HR advisory firm EnergyRelations, have conducted a survey of human resources managers working in the energy sector in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The research identified that energy and utility companies across the region are facing a serious skills shortage. It discovered that 58 per cent of HR managers think that specialist talent is urgently needed to help firms navigate the new energy landscape.
Survey participants highlighted the sector’s key challenges as being the radical nuclear phase-out recently initiated in Germany, the transition to renewable energy, the growing importance of e-mobility and energy efficiency as well as the numerous smart grid roll out programmes. As a result, the human resources managers who took part in the research suggested that over the next two to three years there will be few opportunities for existing senior managers and apprentices but that they will instead be on the look out for specialist talent.
It is interesting how despite acknowledging this intense competition for employees with suitable qualifications, many companies have no contingency plan. An amazing 69 per cent of the companies surveyed have not yet aligned their HR planning and strategic development with the new requirements of the energy market. This is a cause for concern, especially if the business risks posed by not being able to recruit the right people at the right time are being underestimated.
Posted by Maik Neubauer on 7th November 2011.
To read the full article click here
