GE on Technical Recruitment Drive in Oil & Gas Sector

GE Oil & Gas plans to boost its technical offerings to energy sector customers during the next few years through significant investment and a recruitment drive, GE Oil & Gas CEO Daniel Heintzelman confirmed Monday in Florence, Italy.

At the GE Oil & Gas 2013 Annual Meeting, attended by Rigzone, Heintzelman said that GE Oil & Gas is "certainly looking for more talent on the technology side" and "not just in easy places to hire but in emerging markets".

Mindful that "50 percent of today's 10 million oil and gas workers are eligible to retire in 2015", Heintzelman said that the entire industry faces a “human resources challenge".

"There is a tremendous need for us to be proactive," when it comes to training and hiring the next generation of oil and gas industry workers, Heintzelman added.

GE Oil & Gas has already significantly grown its workforce in recent years. The business employs more than 37,000 people today compared with a total of just 12,000 in 2009, although much of this growth in personnel has boosted by acquisitions of other firms.

Heintzelman also pointed to GE's own contribution in adding to the training and education of oil and gas professionals through the firm’s Florence-based Oil & Gas University, where oil and gas professionals are taught by GE Oil & Gas experts, university professors and other professionals in a six-month program.

GE also plans to double its technology investment spend over the next three years, compared with the previous three years, Heintzelman confirmed.

Now a standalone segment within GE, GE Oil & Gas reported 4Q 2012 revenue of $4.5 billion and full-year 2012 revenue of $15.2 billion. The company announced a $500 million turbomachinery and services deal with Petrobras on January 15.

A former engineer, Jon is an award-winning editor who has covered the technology, engineering and energy sectors since the mid-1990s. Email Jon at jmainwaring@rigzone.com.

Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.

View the original article here