Aberdeen faces a tall order if it is to realise its potential as a global energy capital - within the next ten years, it must recruit as many new workers as are already based there.

That's the view of accountants at PwC, who said 120,000 new workers were needed in the city by 2022.

The figure came from their analysis of the staffing needs presented by £31m of scheduled investment, and the need to replace retiring workers.

Mark Higginson from the company’s Aberdeen office said a specialist energy academy would need to open in the city within two-three years, in order to train its future oil and gas workers.

-- Advertisement --

It is not the first time the company has called for such a training centre.

PwC also stressed that the city needed to move on from the Union City Gardens row and find new ways to capitalise on North Sea fields, including using technical innovations and capitalizing on opportunities in areas including West of Shetland.

Almost half of the oil industry's workforce in the city is now aged over 45, the company found, and the need to replace retiring workers over the next ten years accounts for a hug 80% of the 120,000 vacancies it forecasts.

Mr Higginson said: "We must accentuate the good, challenge the negative and celebrate the best of Aberdeen, its people and the dynamic global leadership its industries can offer. This is a great city in which to live, do business and invest, but we cannot ignore the challenges."

(NE)