Employment

Global employment trends

The ILO estimates that at least 2.5 million people are presently employed in the oil/gas extraction and production, and refining industries. About 1 million people are employed in the oil and gas extraction and production sector. In addition, approximately 1.5 million people are employed in the refining sector. Table 1 (World refinery employment) shows regional shares of employment in the refining sector over the past two decades. The main changes were a sharp overall employment increase in Asia, and a significant reduction in the former Soviet Union and some other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. A few countries in Asia lost employment.

Useful links/resources

• Evolution of employment in petroleum refining sector, (selected countries, 1990-2002) - gives a breakdown of world refinery employment during the 1990-2002 period (Excel sheet, 39k)