Power professionals optimistic about the impact of AI – survey

According to the latest Global Energy Talent Index (GETI), 86% of power professionals are optimistic about the future impact of AI on the power sector.

According to the report from Airswift, which surveyed 12,000 energy professionals across oil and gas, renewables, power, nuclear and petrochemicals, 30% of power professionals already use AI – slightly ahead of the energy industry average of 27%.

A further 12%, states the report, are expecting to adopt AI within six months. Within the 86% of those positive of its impact, many are anticipating an uplift in their 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 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 cybersecurity as an area the industry may need to proactively develop to shore up skills. Notably, cybersecurity 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.

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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.

Janette Marx, CEO of Airswift, said in a release: “Power professionals are not only receptive to the evolving technological landscape, but also are keen on upskilling in areas like AI, machine learning, programming and IT. This presents a significant opportunity for hiring managers to attract and retain talent by fostering an environment of continual learning and skills development.”

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.

Janette Marx, CEO of Airswift, added: “Though most in the sector are open to moving roles, we know they prize career progression, and hiring managers have a great chance to boost retention by giving professionals opportunities to develop the skills identified.”