HOUSTON, January 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Forty-two percent of European-based energy professionals believe it would be easy to find a new position in 2012, compared to 36 percent who think finding a new job would be hard. However, the 3,800 European-based respondents are less confident about finding a new job this year than their peers in other regions of the world, according to a global survey conducted by Rigzone, the leading online resource for oil and gas information, data and talent recruitment.

The general optimism among European-based energy professionals isn't consistent across all energy specialties. More professionals focused in general engineering, geosciences, trades and production thought finding a new position in 2012 would be harder, rather than easy. This contrasts with drilling, design and construction engineers and health, safety and the environment (HSE) professionals who were most confident.

"It appears the economic malaise and debt crisis is weighing on the sentiment of oil and gas professionals working in Europe. As compared to other energy regions, there is a mismatch between the number of professionals receiving inquiries from recruiters and the ease at which they believe a new job is possible," said John Benson, Managing Director, Energy of Dice Holdings, Inc.

More than eight in 10 European-based respondents (81%) reported being contacted by a recruiter in the past six months, a rate that exceeds every geography in the world. Despite the high level of recruitment activity present in Europe, its oil and gas professionals are less confident than their peers in the U.S. where about 76 percent had been contacted by a recruiter, but nearly half (49%) anticipated finding a favorable new position would be easy.

Better career opportunities stood at the top of the list of key wants for Europe's energy professionals, followed by better work/life balance and a desire for increased compensation. Recruiters, meanwhile, generally focus on money first when it comes to wooing potential new candidates, as well as career opportunities and the chance to work in a new locale.

Nearly three-fourths (73%) of employed European-based energy pros reported that their current employers have done nothing to stop them from moving on to a new job. For those who have received incentives to stay put, more money was the most common inducement. Despite this, more than half (52%) of respondents said they could be lured into staying even if a favorable, new opportunity presented itself in 2012.

About the survey
From January 2 to January 9, 2012, Rigzone surveyed oil and gas professionals from every region of the world. More than 27,800 employed professionals responded to the email survey, with 3,811 identified as working or residing in Europe. Duplicate responses from a single IP address were removed. Margin of error is +/- one percent.

Table 1: How easy do you anticipate it would be to find a favorable new position in your area of specialty in 2012?

                               Australia/             Middle  South  United
                 Europe Africa  Oceania   Asia Canada  East  America States
    Very easy       12%    16%      14%    13%    17%   15%     17%    16%
    Fairly easy     31%    27%      40%    32%    37%   30%     29%    33%
    Fairly hard     27%    21%      24%    27%    20%   26%     23%    24%
    Very hard        9%     8%       5%     8%     5%    6%      7%     9%
    I don't know    22%    29%      17%    21%    20%   24%     24%    18%

Table 2: How many calls have you received from recruiters in the last six months?

    None       19%
    1-5        43%
    6-10       21%
    11-15       6%
    16 or more 11%

Table 3: Which of the following, if any, are influencing your decision to move to another employer?
(Responses Ranked)

    Better career opportunities elsewhere                    1
    Opportunity for better work/life balance                 2
    Increased compensation                                   3
    Contractor (I frequently move employers due to projects) 4
    Frustrated with lack of recognition for accomplishments  5
    Other (please specify)                                   6

Table 4:What incentives have you been offered to consider switching employers?
(Multiple answers accepted.)

    Better job title                       21%
    Better non-monetary benefits           12%
    Increased salary/bill rate             52%
    Guaranteed bonus in 2012/sign-on bonus 10%
    Better career opportunities            49%
    Opportunity to work in a new location  42%
    Flexible schedule                      17%
    None                                   13%
    Other (please specify)                  2%

Table 5: In the last six months, has your employer offered you any positive incentives to deter you from moving to another company?

    Yes 27%
    No  73%

Table 6: What incentives did your employer offer to you to deter your leaving?
(Affirmative respondents only. Multiple answers accepted.)

    More interesting or challenging assignments                     30%
    Increased salary                                                60%
    Higher or guaranteed retention bonus                            21%
    Reimbursable education or training programs                     12%
    Promotion or new title                                          21%
    High-level recognition                                          11%
    Opportunity to work in a new location                           22%
    Flexible work hours                                             15%
    Increased staff to help reduce workload                          5%
    Participation in employee stock options, restricted stock, etc.  5%
    Other (please specify)                                           6%

Table 7: If you find an appropriate new opportunity, could anything deter you from moving on in 2012?

    Yes                                                  52%
    No                                                   42%
    Not applicable, I'm staying with my current employer  6%

Note: Results may not equal 100 percent due to rounding or multiple answers accepted as noted.

About Rigzone
Rigzone, a Dice Holdings Inc. service, is a leading online resource for the oil and gas industry delivering content, data, advertising and career services. Dedicated to bringing upstream oil and gas news and data, including in-depth information on exploration, drilling and production markets to organizations tackling the energy challenge, its online community of highly-skilled and experienced energy professionals is unmatched. http://www.rigzone.com

Media Contacts
Jennifer Bewley or Rachel Ceccarelli
media@rigzone.com
+1-212-448-8288

SOURCE Rigzone