A survey has suggested that those employed in the renewable energy sector are seeing their wages increase at a faster rate than those working in the oil and gas industry.

The statistics were published by recruiters oilandgaspeople.com in their latest quarterly report on wage growth.

More than 20,000 jobs in the energy sector were compared over a three-month period for the report, and discovered that pressure on certain jobs meant some wages in specialist posts increased by more than 30%.

Wages for engineers in fuel cells had increased by 33%, wages for biomass had risen by 18%, tidal was up by 11%, with geothermal increasing by 9% and solar by 8%.

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The smallest increase was in wind power, which only saw a 0.5% increase in wages.

The report found this growth rate was higher than the traditional energy sector, which saw an average increase of 5% in jobs in North Sea Oil and Gas over the same period. However, there was a shortfall of staff in some jobs, with day rates for well supervisors and drill superintendents surging by 15% and 17% respectively.

Kevin Forbes, Chief Executive of oilandgaspeople.com is quoted as saying: "The uncertainly over investment in renewables recently has only hit the wind sector, which is no surprise.

"Despite subsidies increasing by 10% under the government's reforms of the electricity market next year, the 'contracts for difference' will run for only 15 years compared to 20 years under the old system.

"Employment levels are now stable in the sector, but with continuing uncertainty over investment, wages will see small increases for some time.

"While the wages in the fuel cell industry have seen a huge jump, this is no surprise as 2012 was a breakout year for the sector with many companies seeing profit for the first time.

"With increased investment and annual installed capacity set to top 200 MW in 2013, the big utility companies are now taking this sector very seriously."

(JP/CD)