Fuelling the Future: How Oil & Gas Talent Can Thrive in Renewables

By 2030, renewable energy investments are expected to account for 63% of the total energy investment in the UK, while oil and gas companies contribute for only 10%. As the energy landscape is shifting from fossil fuels towards renewable sources, new career opportunities have emerged for oil and gas professionals. Recruiters play a fundamental role in connecting experience energy sector talent with clean-tech roles.

At Experts Group International (EGI), we specialise in supporting the growth of sustainability-focused enterprises. Our talent acquisition team is trained to find and hire the best experts in skilled clean-tech fields.

Whether you’re an oil and gas professional looking to transition or a hiring manager scaling a clean energy team, here’s what you need to know about the big energy career shift.

What the IEA Says About Oil, Gas & Net Zero:

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that companies resisting the energy transition risk becoming irrelevant. If global warming is limited to 1.5°C, the valuation of private oil and gas companies could decline by 60%. This reflects significant shifts within the renewable energy sector and if countries achieve their climate targets, the global demand for oil and gas could decrease by a further 45% by 2050.

A Growing Clean Energy Workforce:

In the UK, the low-carbon and renewable energy workforce is growing five times faster than the global employment rate. Job advertisements for clean energy roles have doubled since 2019. Between 2020 and 2022, jobs in the Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy (LCREE) increased by 27%, surpassing 272,400 full-time equivalents (FTEs) positions. As a result, these jobs need to be filled by experienced workers from traditional energy sectors. That makes oil and gas professionals one of the most valuable talent pools in the energy transition.

Transferable Skills from Oil & Gas to Renewables:

• Project Managers: Prior experience in overseeing infrastructure projects is highly transferable for the successful delivery of large-scale wind, hydrogen, or grid development.
• Operations Managers: Previous background knowledge of solar PV technology and fault diagnostics.
• Engineering & Technical Expertise – University degree and previous experience in mechanical, electrical, civil, or process engineering is essential for jobs involving turbines, solar systems, hydrogen facilities, and grid technologies.

According to the UK Government Clean Power 2030 Skills Report over 90% of the UK’s oil and gas workforce possess skills with medium to high transferability to offshore renewables.

Barriers to Career Switching:

There are several barriers restricting the workforce transition, and this is where recruiters can help in making a difference:

• Employers underestimate transferable skills and demand direct experience in renewables.
• Training capacity is limited, especially for Small Medium Enterprises (SME’s) and regional training providers.
• Upskilling can be costly and time-consuming, particularly for mid-career professionals.
• As there is a growing uncertainty around demand, workers are unlikely to invest in training for new roles unless they see a stable, long-term market for those skills

At EGI, our recruiters assist in this process. They help to identify skills, support career shifts, and collaborate with employers to modernise their talent strategy.

How Recruiters Can Help Oil & Gas Talent Transition to Renewables:

The recruitment industry can help shape the future of energy talent in 5 ways:

1. Identify and Translate Transferable Skills

• Create frameworks that connect oil & gas experience to clean energy roles.
• Support candidates in reframing CVs and LinkedIn profiles to reflect transferable strengths.

2. Promote Smart Upskilling

• Encourage certifications such as GWO, solar PV, and hydrogen safety.
• Implement training programs that match current market demands.

3. Advise Clients Towards Practical Hiring Perspectives

• Show employers how previous oil and gas experience can add value.
• Educate employers on why soft skills and project delivery history often outweigh narrow sector-specific experience

4. Build Diverse Talent Pipelines

• Target workers from underrepresented backgrounds in oil and gas such as women and ethnic minorities.
• Position renewables as a more inclusive and sustainable career path.

5. Match Local Talent to Local Opportunities

• Renewables often create local jobs in installation and construction.
• Focus on region-specific hiring to support community regeneration.

Sectors Where Oil & Gas Skills Will Dominate:

According to The International Energy Agency (IEA), it is predicted that approximately 30% of the energy required to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 will be produced using technologies that depend on previous oil and gas sector expertise These include:

• Hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels
• Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)
• Offshore wind
• Electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure

Oil and gas companies already participate in 90% of global CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage) projects and an increasing number of hydrogen initiatives. As these areas continue to expand, the demand for skilled professionals with oil and gas experience will grow.

At EGI, our talent acquisition team specialise in recruiting and driving innovation across all of these critical sectors.

Our role at Experts Group International – Join our Network and Explore our opportunities:

As demand for wind, solar, and sustainable grid solutions accelerates, so does the need for innovative recruitment strategies and talent pipelines. Whether you’re a company seeking to expand your renewable operations, or a professional looking to break into a high-impact industry, now is the time to act.

At Experts Group International, we’re proud to play a pivotal role in building the workforce behind the clean energy transition. Our CleanTech Team specialises in connecting top-tier talent with companies leading the way in offshore wind, solar and hydropower, data centres, and energy storage systems.

If you are hiring in the clean energy sector, you can speak to one of our consulting experts here.

Lastly, if you are exploring new work opportunities within the CleanTech industry, click here to see our available roles.