Report: Power Sector Professionals Focus on Career progression, Eyeing AI and Upskilling
The eighth annual Global Energy Talent Index (GETI) reveals a power sector that is embracing AI, with optimism for its future and wide interest in skills development.
According to the report, produced by Airswift, 30% of power professionals already use AI – slightly ahead of the energy industry average of 27%. A further 12% are expecting to adopt AI within six months. Most (86%) power professionals are optimistic about the future impact of AI, with many anticipating an uplift in their personal productivity (78%), improved career progression opportunities (64%) and spending more time with family and friends (59%).
Nearly all respondents to the GETI 2024 report say AI will increase demand for skills, with two thirds (64%) of power professionals expecting AI to increase pressure on them personally to acquire new skills. Technical skills such as programming, software engineering, data science and machine learning are where power professionals perceive the greatest demand.
When exploring the relationship between potential skills development opportunities and expected future demand, initial findings highlight cyber security as an area the industry may need to proactively develop to shore up skills. Notably, cyber security is considered a key risk to greater AI use, alongside a reduction in the human touch, and a lack of training leading to misuse or poor adoption.
The report also found the need for soft skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative thinking, which are expected to increase, highlighting the unique human capabilities that complement AI technologies.
Salaries and Global Mobility
Despite experiencing steady salary growth, with 54% of power professionals reporting an income increase, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, the workforce remains dynamic in seeking career advancement opportunities. A staggering 91% of professionals are open to changing roles within or even outside the energy sector. Renewables remains the alternative sector of choice (54%), followed by oil and gas (36%). Beyond energy, 35% would move to the technology sector with manufacturing becoming steadily more attractive, rising 7 percentage points since 2022.
These findings come during a unique phase of salary stability, with 77% of professionals expecting a further increase in income, complemented by a similar optimism among hiring managers. This financial stability coexists with a high mobility mindset, with 83% of professionals open to relocation.
The full report is available for download at http://www.getireport.com
