Saudi Aramco: ‘Industry cannot afford to lose talent when the economy is down’

Industry is facing a human resources challenge in two areas: the ageing workforce and the shortage of skills, Mohammed Al Sellemi, Human Resources Director at Saudi Aramco, said. “The industry cannot afford to lose talent when the economy is down.” In other industries, such as finance and transportation, a college graduate may become an expert in their field in approximately three years. However, in the oil and gas industry, it takes about 10 to 16 years, Mr Al Sellemi explained. Mr Al Sellemi participated on a panel session about workforce attraction and retention at the 2014 IADC Critical Issues Middle East Conference in Dubai on 9 December.