Forty-eight percent of U.S.-focused hiring managers in the oil and gas industry plan to boost hiring in the second half of 2013, according to a national survey conducted by Rigzone, an online resource for oil and gas information, data and talent recruitment. Only 8 percent of respondents expect a decrease in hiring plans.

Fifty-five percent of hiring managers and recruiters said they anticipate a shift to more full-time employment in 2013, as compared with 2012. Thirty-four percent intend to hire more contractors, 26 percent plan to utilize staffing more and 21 percent anticipate a hiring increase for rotational workers. 

“The results are encouraging for oil and gas professionals who’ve seen new jobs created in the first part of the year, but at a slower pace than we’ve enjoyed in the past few years,” said Paul Caplan, president of Rigzone. “While the overall hiring environment may be described as tempered, ratchet that description up several notches to flat-out, unbridled optimism for engineers.”

Engineering positions dominate the list of new positions hiring managers plan to recruit for in the second half of this year.  The top ten positions are:

1. Mechanical engineers
2. Design engineers
3. Petroleum engineers
4. Electrical engineers
5. Reservoir engineers
6. Pipeline engineers
7. Health, safety and environment managers
8. Finance and accounting talent
9. Production engineers
10. Process engineers

Rigzone surveyed 183 hiring managers and recruiters who primarily recruit U.S. energy professionals from May 21 to May 24, 2013. Thirty percent represented companies with more than 5,000 employees.