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

According to the IEA, by 2030 global oil and gas demand is expected to peak. The global energy system is advancing from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives. Oil and gas professionals face new opportunities, and recruiters play a critical role in making the transition happen where they need people with energy sector experience to lead, build, and operate them.

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. By 2030, renewable energy investments is expected to account for 63% of the total energy investment in the UK, while oil and gas companies contribute for only 10%. 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 equivalent (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.

The Challenge:

Despite the alignment of skills being strong, there are several barriers holding back the workforce transition, and this is where recruiters can make a real difference.

Barriers to Career Switching:

• 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 or time-consuming, particularly for mid-career professionals.
• Uncertainty around demand, workers won’t train for roles unless there’s a clear, sustained market for their new skills.

At EGI, our recruiters can act as bridges, translators, and advocates in this process, identifying skills, guiding transitions, and partnering with employers to modernise their talent strategy.

How Recruiters Can Help Oil & Gas Talent Transition to Renewables

This is where the recruitment industry can go beyond “filling roles” and actively shape the future of energy talent:

1. Identify and Translate Transferable Skills

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

2. Promote Smart Upskilling

• Encourage short, stackable certifications (e.g. GWO, solar PV, hydrogen safety).
• Recommend respected training programs aligned with market demand.

3. Advise Clients on Realistic Expectations

• Help employers see the value in oil and gas experience.
• Educate them on why soft skills and project delivery history matter more than niche sector exposure.

4. Build Diverse Pipelines

• Target workers from underrepresented groups in oil and gas (women, ethnic minorities).
• Position renewables as a more inclusive and sustainable career path.

5. Match Local Talent to Local Projects

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

Sectors Where Oil & Gas Skills Can Lead the Way

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), around 30% of the energy required to achieve a net-zero scenario by 2050 will come from technologies that leverage the existing expertise of the oil and gas sector. These include:

• Hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels
• Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)
• Offshore wind (particularly floating 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 only 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.